Coffee shop talk …
This past week I was doing some work on my laptop in a coffee shop in Northern California. I was seated in a quiet corner in a comfortable chair with an attached table when two men came over to the same area and made themselves comfortable.
One guy seemed to be quite friendly and was a “talker.” He didn’t have anything to eat or drink. The other man ate a sandwich and had some coffee. The arrangement of chairs had these two men, who knew each other and had come to the cafe together, seated side by side. During their time at the coffee shop, the “talker” maintained a friendly conversation with the other man. He even asked questions, and seemed to be focused on the interests and needs of his friend. The other man occasionally commented on the content of the conversation, but he never once made eye contact with his friend. Instead, he looked forward, viewing everyone else in the cafe, and never made a visual acknowledgement of his friend.
My heart went out to the “talker.” It seemed he was doing his best to express his interest in the other man’s needs without ever gaining the full attention of his friend. The other man seemed to be far more interested in what was going on around him other than the conversation his friend was trying to have with him, yet he would engage in the conversation intermittently. It seemed as though he participated enough to keep his friend around, perhaps for his own interest in case he might need him, but he never once looked at his friend. The entire time together he kept his eyes everywhere other than on his friend.
Perhaps a week or so earlier, while again working on my laptop in a different coffee shop, I sat across from two older gentlemen who had a casual, comfortable, extended conversation together. They sat at a table facing each other, and throughout their time together, they maintained casual eye contact, showing they were engaged with what the other had to say.
Viewing these two different conversations reminded me of how we sometimes interact with God. All too often, we treat God like the first man did with his “talker friend.” God is working hard to engage us in a dialogue of life and interaction with Him, but we’re too busy viewing everything else going on around us and never really place our full attention on Him. But we keep Him around for the times when we might need Him.
Yet, God desires of us a relationship more like that of the second pairing of men. God desires to “sit across from us” and fully interact with us. He gives us His full and undivided attention, and desires that we engage fully with Him.
How do you interact with God? Do you walk with Him throughout your day regardless of what you’re doing? Or do you let Him “tag along” and you occasionally chime in to keep Him pacified?
Scotty
October 21, 2009 at 5:04 am
I would like to think that I interact with God all day. But I also have to admit that if I wasn't seeking his direction in where I am going…The conversation may not expand.
I sometimes feel as if I am a whinny kid and ask too much. So that is when I get in trouble. I figure I can attempt to do what I can and then He won't have as much to fix. But instead I make it worse.
I have been learning these last few years if I just ask, wait and then listen to His direction. Things not only work out better but I feel better stress wise.
October 24, 2009 at 1:45 am
Sounds like you're learning some good things. But remember, you can't tire God out by asking and talking. In fact, Jesus taught us to be persistent with God! Keep asking, keeping talking. God wants to LIVE in relationship with us, not simply have occasional check-ins and a few requests to peruse.