Don't be afraid to talk...God won't break up with you

By 8^th grade I knew that I had nearly reached manhood.  I wore English Leather cologne.  I had a razor that I felt the need to use.  I had ‘rad’ clothes.  I parted my hair down the middle and feathered it back!  And, best of all, I had a girlfriend.

Julie had shyly accepted my suave request, “Do you want to go out with me?”  From that moment, I was a ladies man!  I would walk Julie to her classes, especially band which was held in the building next door.  To show her that I cared I would carry her flute for her.  There we’d walk, side by side, day after day.  I felt like the luckiest guy in the world. 

I just had one problem…we walked in almost total silence.  We had no idea what to talk about.  I didn’t have the first idea of where to start.  We’d talk about weather…school lunch…band…insignificant stuff, really.  I dreamed of having deep conversations that actually meant something, but I was an 8^th grade boy: I had no idea what girls talked about.  More than anything I feared looking like a dolt.  I found it safer to say nothing than to open my mouth and say something foolish. Some of the other boys seemed so suave with girls…not me!

Julie eventually tired of walking with a silent statue and broke up with me.  Carrying her flute only took me so far.  I suspect that she felt the awkwardness of it all. 

Over the following years I faced this challenge every time I decided to ask someone out.  I’d analyze and reanalyze my conversations to make sure that I didn’t just bumble along.  It never felt comfortable…I always felt I was being judged by my words.  Once I got to know people it would grow easier, but those first moments always terrified me.

When I met Shannon all that changed.  For once I didn’t fear that she’d run away if I said something bizarre…in fact, she kind of expected it.  I could just be myself and talk about whatever was on my mind.  When we were dating and engaged we lived in different states, so we got REALLY good at talking.  Phone calls cost 10 cents a minute, so we ventured into some very early versions of ‘internet chat’ that included telnet and queuing into mainframes.  We couldn’t get enough conversation.  I had someone I desperately wanted to talk to as much as I could. 

Quite a change from those terrified moments with Julie in 8^th grade where I didn’t know what to say.

Many people’s prayer lives feel like my awkward moments with Julie.  We know we have a God we are supposed to pray to, but we have no idea what to talk about.  We don’t want to look foolish, so it’s often easier to just say nothing than risk having God (or anyone else) mock us.  If only we could be like those ‘suave pray-ers’ who seem to know just the right words to say at any moment.

Prayer is simply conversation with God.

I have conversation with my wife every day.  I have things I ask her for.  I thank her for doing things for me.  I tell her how awesome she is (and she is!).  I ask her what I can help her with.  I work through things going on in my life.  I tell jokes and laugh with her.  I don’t have pause to ponder whether what I’m saying is appropriate. It’s my wife – I can totally be myself in the relationship.

I have conversation with my God every day.  I have things I ask for.  I thank God for doing things for me.  I tell God who awesome God is (and God is!).  I ask what I can help with. I work through things going on in my life.  I even joke and laugh.  I don’t have to pause to ponder whether what I’m saying is appropriate.  It’s my God – I can totally be myself in the relationship.

Is it time for you to start spending some time in conversation with God?  Think through your day and find things that you are thankful for.  Find things that drove you nuts.  Talk to God about them.  Ponder your future with God.  God really wants to have time to talk with you. The more you do it, the more you will get past that initial ‘awkward dating’ stage of prayer.  The Bible tells us that we have the Holy Spirit ‘interceding for us’ …so God even helps you talk to God!

The good news is that Jesus is much less judgmental than an 8^th grade girl.  We don’t have to worry about God breaking up with us.  God calls us into a deep relationship where we can simply share what is on our mind.   

It’s time to pray!