Earlier this week I volunteered for the day at the school of my two youngest kids. One of my tasks during the day was monitoring the playground. I am convinced that there are few better places to observe social dynamics than a middle school recess.
What a wide spectrum of personalities I saw. There were the budding athletes, serious at play in basketball, soccer or football. There were the "cool girls" talking among themselves and demonstrating annoyance if a ball would happen to bounce near them (they were standing in the middle of the playing field). I also watched a small group of boys who patrolled the playground donning designer sweatshirts and acting much tougher and cooler than they actually were. There were the girl-chasers who would, without any notice change roles and become the prey instead of the predators. Some kids seemed to have much less preference than others, content to do whatever was in front of them and some seemed to be loners. One girl in particular spent the entire recess spinning by herself on a swing, completely oblivious to her surroundings until the bell rang and shook her out of her stupor.
What does any of this have to do with a blog post on prayer?
As I stood there watching, I couldn't help but notice that none of the individual groups of kids seemed to have the capacity to see beyond their immediate surroundings. They were unable to see that other groups had completely different approaches and perspectives of the same event - recess. They could not see the big picture. On the other hand, I was able to stand on my perch of years and experience and see the birds eye view of things. I could analyze, categorize and evaluate on a whole different level from the actual playground participants.
How much more is this true of God? Here I am running around on my playground, thinking I have it figured out, thinking I have an idea on my role and how I fit into things. But the truth is that I can't see beyond myself - let alone beyond my own group and certainly not the rest of the playground! Yet the Almighty, Infinite God who is not merely all-knowing but Sovereign over all has invited me as His son to ask (and receive) His perspective and His wisdom. How much better would I be able to navigate the hazards of the schoolyard and relate to the other kids if I were to seek the one who sees and controls everything?
He is waiting for me, what am I waiting for?