For a Friend ...

My husband and I watched "Evan Almighty" a couple weeks ago.

Although it is a light-hearted and funny film throughout, I was struck by a particular line of dialogue given by Morgan Freeman (or, God, in this case) ... So much so that I was moved to tears and promptly ridiculed.

The line was thus:

Let me ask you something. If someone prays for patience, you think God gives them patience? Or does he give them the opportunity to be patient? If he prayed for courage, does God give him courage? Or does he give him opportunities to be courageous? If someone prayed for their family to be closer, do you think God zaps them with warm fuzzy feelings, or does he give them opportunities to love each other?

It amazes me how a Hollywood movie can actually hold such wisdom. In my opinion, whoever was responsible for this script (at least this section of it) hit it right on the head. Our prayers aren't answered outwordly by just giving us the thing that we need or want most ... They are answered when we actively go out and work toward whatever it is we asked for, when we find something inside of ourselves that we didn't realize was there before.

So goes the saying:

You need to be the change you wish to see in the world.

I think the same thing applies. The world can be an awfully dismal and depressing place if we look at it full on. There is war, poverty, death, disaster ... But if we take a moment to pull ourselves away, to see things from our singular perspective, and do small acts of kindness, we can turn the tide. It's all about the opportunities to do great things.

And, for the friend I'm thinking of as I write this entry, you have (and will continue to have) so many opportunities to do right for the world. Just take it one small step at a time and I know that you will not waste any of them. :)