I remember the first time I ever saw a chalk artist working on a street in Paris. Having never seen this before, I was totally fascinated with the optical illusion that had been created. It was amazing that someone would go to all that trouble to create something so amazing, which in time would only be washed away. We were making our way through the streets of the city when I noticed a crowd of people standing looking down on the sidewalk as though someone had fallen. It was a total surprise to see the artist on his knees with chalk in hand finishing up a work of art that was dumbfounding. Having never seen anything so remarkable, I was frozen in my tracks and lost interest in anything other than what had been drawn with just chalk on the street before me. The Eiffel Tower, the Arc De Triomphe, The Louvre’, The Museums, Notre Dame Cathedral, Centre Pompidou, all this could wait. I was enthralled by this artist at work! I confess I am no art expert, but he was good; and I immediately wondered why his talent had become so biodegradable.
I walked away reluctantly, left to wonder how long the master’s art would last. As I walked out of the prayer meeting early one morning, I thought about the chalk art I had seen so long ago. The artist’s hand was like a rainbow from holding the different colors of chalk. What would become of the brilliant masterpiece? It would be ignored, walked on by lovers and workman, barely noticed by the crowds of sightseers who were there to see the more important memorable sight. In time, it would be gone without a trace. This, however, is not the way it is with our prayers. God hears and collects our prayers of faith, and in time will answer. That specific morning I had prayed for the church and the school and my children, concerning the future. My prayers and yours are not limited to time and space because our God who hears and answers prayer is not limited to time or space. Our prayers are not like chalk art, and neither do they have to be poetic to solicit Heaven’s response. Time cannot erase them for they are not chalk prayers, but sometimes they are in the form of a plea or a please, a groan or a gritty request from a hungry soul. At other times our prayer is like a summons. Today, I ask you to join me as we “summon God to rend the heavens and come down”.
WE BELIEVE IN YOU!
Your loving pastors,
Cleddie and GayNell