a drop of water

This morning I was doing dishes and thinking about thanksgiving.  I was trying to start the day with the right attitude and not get overwhelmed with the days responsibilities and pressures.  In light of building rythym and habits into my life that engage and acknowledge God, in order to be more sensitive to his guiding, I realized that everytime I open up a chat window or send an email, I could take some time out to pray some thanksgiving for my relationship for that person.  It doesn’t need to be an hour long prayer (though it could if you feel its needed).  It is just a conscious acknowledgement that “God, you are in charge of this relationship, give me the words that will build up and not tear down, will encourage and edify, will be meaningful and not just passing.”  I send emails and open up chat windows with people all day, its a normal part of my life.  Redeeming, infusing and empowering that normal, pragmatic, part of my life with God is exciting!  It is not meant to just include God in the act, like fries is included with your burger.  More like replacing the frozen processed burger with a steak.

Praying with thanksgiving everytime I open up a compose email window or a chat window takes me out of the GTD mentality (definitely a good gesture, but maybe not the best posture) and puts me in a position to realize that my relationship with this person is an opportunity to be God’s hand and feet which is a blessing in and of itself!  It keeps me from writing or chatting retaliatory words, words that do no good and maybe just flail in an attempt to prove my own rightness, and reminds me that I need to build people up in a loving way.  It reminds me that I need to be sensitive both to God’s leading in how I communicate with everyone, and sensitive to what those people are trying to communicate to me.  It keeps me mindful that everything I do is an opportunity to respond consciously to God’s provision in my life.