Promptings...

It’s a word I often use, but every time I type it, the spell checker adds a squiggly red underline indicating that it is not a valid word in the English language.  Years ago I learned the word “Promptings,” as a description of how the Holy Spirit prompts or nudges us to do God’s work and will, and my spirituality professor taught us that the goal of the faith is to listen for and respond to God’s promptings all the time.  In doing so, our faith grows, we share Christ, and God is revealed.
As a father, there are multiple times in a day when I prompt my children and pets to act on or follow through with something.  The prompt is sometimes for the good of my child or pet, but often the prompting is shared as a means of teaching them how to live in community or simply navigate the world.  Sometimes those prompts are received with little to no resistance, but there are other times when it seems I might as well have told them to jump off a bridge into ice cold water.  They act as if I’ve personally attacked them, and they insist on their own way.  And then there are those times when the prompt is seemingly “not heard”...
As one can expect, it can get frustrating at times, because if they would just listen and respond, just be open to seeing and doing things from a different perspective, then everyone might be better for it.  But as such thoughts come to mind, there are times when I am reminded by a voice in my head that I can be just as closed off and resistant to the promptings around me.
Whether it is from my wife, from folks in the Church, or from the Holy Spirit itself, it is so easy to keep the blinders on, resist listening and looking, and if an urge hits, to rationalize that it’s not from God or not important, but if I am open and honest enough, if I dig down under the surface, I can often realized that indeed, it was a prompting.
This morning I felt a prompting.  I came out of breakfast, and there was a man sitting beside the road.  I was nudged to go to him and see if he needed anything.  At first I shrugged it off.  It came again, and I realized I had to meet someone at the office, and so I drove away.  In the midst of the interaction at the office the man’s face and demeanor stuck in my head, and I heard the voice, “Go back after you are done talking.”
I listened to that voice, and drove back to the restaurant, only to find that the man was no longer there.  I drove around a bit to see if I could find him, but he was gone in the 20 minutes since I’d left.
It is bothersome to confess this, especially since our congregation is being intentional in praying, “God helps us to see what YOU need us to see,” then respond as we feel prompted to do so.  And yet at the same time, when I prayed and thought about it, I heard God say, “Yes, you should have responded, but in responding with acknowledgment of not following, you are better equipped to listen and respond in the future.”

In the 15th chapter of the book of Romans, Paul writes, “We...ought to bear our failings, not to please ourselves...but for the good of those around us and to build them up...May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
As I read these words, I am reminded that this is not the first or last prompting I will neglect to respond to, and I am also reminded that there will be many times when those for whom I care will neglect to respond to my prompts as well.  But because of grace, God doesn’t give up on me and will continue to invite me to participate in the inbreaking of the Kingdom of God, just as I will continue to instruct and urge my family to live into a life and way that seeks wholeness and health.

How well are you seeking to live into God’s will?  Where are you missing God’s promptings?  Are you resisting promptings which might transform others and/or you?  These are hard questions, but in asking them, God can change, not just you, but the world.

Holy Spirit, help us to seek Your voice, to tune into Your promptings, and then follow faithfully, trusting in Your will, and Your ways, so that we might be changed, and Your Great Commission lived out through us.  In Your name we pray.  Amen.

Listening to Promptings

    My five year old daughter LOVES her Godfather.  She calls him “Mister Bwyan,” but he has been known as her babysitter (he’d babysit for us to give Teresa and me a night out), her fellow bubble blower and chaser, her chief story reader, the best friend and manipulator of Tevye (a puppet), and her center of attention when he is in the room.  Since the snow came, these past three days he has been the one with whom she shares her news.

    Now Mister Bwyan lives four hours away, but that doesn’t stop my daughter from connecting with her, and connect she has.  When she comes in from playing in the snow she looks at us and says, “Let’s call Mister Bwyan.”  At first we picked up the phone and hit speed dial, but now she walks over, picks up the cell, opens it and holds it up for us to push the button.  Then she proceeds to give him the update and share whatever is on her mind.
    She’ll share what she’s been doing, what we’ve been doing, and of course, anything that relates to the snow.  We went sledding, “Let’s call Mister Bwyan.”  She built a snow man, “Let’s call Mister Bwyan.”  Oh, and by the way, Mister Bwyan was MY friend first, and I rarely get a chance to talk before she says, “See ya.  Bye,” then slams the phone shut and runs off to play some more.
    It’s been endearing to watch and pleasing to my wife and me, and at least for me, it has made me pause.  After all, what she is doing is living in relationship.  She freely allows herself to go with where the relationship will take her, so when she feels a prompting to talk to Mister Bwyan, she picks up the phone and talks.  Once she’s said her peace or heard her word of encouragement from him (I’d not know since I’m not privy to their conversations), she moves on to the next thing...until the next prompting.

    This is such a busy time for so many people.  We’re busy shopping or wrapping or going to parties.  We’re so busy in fact that it can be easy to charge ahead and neglect to listen for the promptings of our hearts and minds.  We can have so much to do that we don’t stop to make that call or share that news, both of which are important for the teller and the listener.
    I know Anna gets a lot out of those calls, but I know that her godfather does as well.  Heck, we get a lot out of them, seeing it from this end.

    In watching my daughter so freely respond to her promptings, it has spurred me to try and be more intentional in following my promptings.  Promptings to call a friend, loved one, or parishioner who comes to mind.  Promptings to write a note or share a story.  Promptings to help the neighbor in need and even look for opportunities to serve.  However, the biggest reminder for me is the prompting to check in with God.
    I want to be more like Anna.  I want to freely check in with God.  Far less than I’d like to think I do, I don’t take the time to simply call on God and share my day, relate my thoughts, or share my joy.  I’d imagine, if I did it more, God would be pleased, I would be blessed, and others might even see in me the kinds of things my daughter has taught me over the last few days – the importance of listening to promptings and responding.

How can we be more open to listen and respond?  Are we willing to follow through with whatever we hear?