“Lord, bless these conversations we’re having tonight … “

There were maybe 30 of us gathered for an informal, faith-based event. Everybody knew somebody. Nobody knew everybody. There would be encounters with friends, and encounters with strangers. There would be comfortable conversations, as well as challenging conversations.

Conversations are almost always challenging for me, so I am sure I lifted prayer in the moments before liftoff.

“Lord, bless this evening … “

Or, “Lord, bless this opportunity … “

Or, “Lord, show me where you need me tonight.”

But the priest who opened the event chose a more specific prayer.

“Lord, bless these conversations we’re having tonight.”

The prayer resonated with me. Instantly. It turned the light toward places I saw shadows. For me, conversations always feel like I am making my way through an unlit room. Plenty of short, uncertain steps, followed by long pauses. But with God’s Light, maybe I could see a path.

I carried the blessing through two or three conversations, and found myself standing alone for a moment. A young man looked at me, looked away, and then stepped closer.

“You probably can’t help me, but … “

And I couldn’t help.

“Sorry. Wish I could.”

And I honestly wanted to help, and believed I couldn’t help. But I was holding onto the blessing and, after a long pause, I extended the conversation.

“Tell me more … “

As he explained, my thought process unlocked, my heart unlocked, I saw the path. There was a new light in the conversation, and I helped find him find a solution to his problem.

I don’t know for sure that God moved in the moment, but I am absolutely certain that God wanted me to move, to take another step.  I am certain that he shaped me, prepared me, to press more vigorously into the moment.

I walked away from the evening determined to be more specific in my prayers. Too often, I think, I rely on generic prayers.  “Lord, share your Light with us” or “Lord, guide me through this evening.”

Perhaps, when I found the courage to say “Tell me more” to the man who asked for help, I was echoing God. Isn’t He always a “tell me more” God?

(Times photo by Bill Utterback)