INCOHERENCE TO ARTICULACY

“But it’s sure nice talking to you, Dad. It’s been sure nice talking to you.” — Harry Chapin, “Cat’s in the Cradle”

We learned incorrectly. We assumed that we needed to begin with perfection instead of traveling along the continuum of life as a journey. Communication takes place in progression. We age. We grow. We develop in thinking and faith, ultimately learning the desire to learn how to listen. And learning the desire to learn how to pray.

Our life reflects the movements of our spirit:

Infancy: We enter into this world. Our relationship with our parents stems from our state of constant need and incapability. Communication consists in a series of whimpers and wails during the day and throughout the night. We are hungry. We are tired. Feed us. Clothe us. Put us to bed.

Childhood: Our crying slowly transforms into language. Along the way, parents call it gibberish. Every kid’s dialect proves rather unique and decipherable only by the parents who provide interpretation for friends, grandparents, and bewildered babysitters. We learn language but continually befuddle others and muddle expressions. We attempt and fail, but our parents delight in the small steps of sophistication.

Later childhood: Broken sentences transform into coherent speech, thanks to patient parents and Sesame Street. Our approach changes with maturity, but our premise remains. I want .…I want the candy at the store. I want the new toy at the mall. I want to stay up later and watch one more show. I don’t want to eat vegetables.

Adolescence, the teenage years: Our minds attempt increased complexity, and our deviousness develops. “I want” turns to “I need.” “I need” turns to “I’m gonna take” and “I’m going.” We demand things from our parents, most vehemently our right to ourselves. We grow up and discover independence, or at least the illusion of it. We find “our way” and vow to be controlled by no one.

Adulthood (hopefully): We chose our path. We learned. Some chose the hard way. Some chose a path of less resistance. We know the power of words. We realize that they enable relationship and that our parents want one. We realize they want dialogue, conversation and a friendship. We grow into the reality that they have lives and feelings that they want to share.

Revolutionary.

What inhibits you from communicating with God?
What is prayer to you?
How can you pursue a deeper level of communication with God?

Amy