Follow The Light

Please read the history of the poem and the final verse after the history.

Catching God

Yesterday---

I tried to catch God on the run...

as I mumbled a "Thank you for this day"

with toothpaste foaming on my lips.

I asked God to guide a friend through surgery

as I combed my hair.

I bowed for a few seconds of prayer

while waiting for my toast to pop up.

I opened my Bible and read a verse or two

while drinking my juice.

I tried to catch God on the run...

while the car was warming up

and the Christian radio station blared.

I prayed for safety for my loved ones,

but stopped when I heard the announcer

begin his traffic update.

As I drove to work,

I alternated between singing and praying

but I was often distracted by traffic.

And I didn't feel fulfilled.

I tried to catch God on the run...

as I dodged pedestrians and

prayed for those in the hospital.

I asked for and was granted

a parking space as I entered the garage.

While at work, I paused several times

for short, one or two line prayers.

After all, doesn't the Bible tell us,

"Pray without ceasing?"

On the way home, my mind kept flickering

from those who needed prayer

to grocery lists and supper to make.

I felt that I'd forgotten something...

something important...

but didn't know what.

I tried to catch God on the run...

between making supper and doing dishes,

between TV shows and telephone calls,

between laundry and reading the newspaper.

I finally took my Bible to the bathroom

and for five uninterrupted minutes...

I was alone with God.

Alone with God?

I was alone with God

when I first arose that morning,

when I brushed my teeth,

and while I gobbled down toast and juice.

In the car, we were alone.

In the parking garage we were alone.

At work we were alone.

Then why did I feel like

I hadn't spoken with Him?

I tired to catch God on the run...

and didn't wait for His answers.

As I lay down

in my comfortable bed last night,

I stopped trying to catch God on the run.

I wanted to wait for His answers,

but sleep drew my eyelids closed.

As I drifted off to sleep, I prayed...

"Dear God, tomorrow,

give me uninterrupted time with You.

Let me awaken before the alarm sounds

so I'll have time

to quietly thank You for the day.

Let me spend quality time with You,

reading Your Word, praying,

and, yes, relaxing with You

so that tomorrow...

I won't try to catch You on the run.

Slow me down Lord and let me see

the beauty of creation...

let me hear the whispered sound

of Your voice...

before the world engulfs me again

and I must run through the day...

while You are trying to catch me!

by Dorothea K. Barwick (c) January 1993

Isaiah 55:6

Seek ye the LORD while he may be found,

call ye upon him while he is near.

History of poem:

For years, while the children were growing up, I was at home and able to have my daily devotions uninterrupted when I'd either go for a walk in the woods, or just retreat to my bedroom for a period of drawing on God's strength, renewing my tired soul, praying and then waiting on Him for the answer or the blessing.

Then when some of the children were grown and gone, I found it necessary to go out to work so our youngest could stay in a Christian school, and my life changed dramatically. Gone were the quiet moments alone with our Lord, gone were the peaceful interludes in the woods, gone was the feeling I used to get of peace after I prayed.

One day, after feeling so frustrated, so exhausted, so inadequate, I fell into bed and prayed for God to change my tomorrow...change it back to the way it used to be. While lying there moments before dozing off, I could picture the Lord with His arms outstretched, waiting for me to enter the safety of those arms. Then I pictured Him slowly lowering His arms and sighing and turning away...with me running after Him. Suddenly, the message was clear...when God was there waiting for me, I was too busy.

Now when I wanted Him, He was slowly walking away, and the Bible verse to seek Him while He may be found, penetrated my mind.

I was now totally awake!

Had God been running after me all day?

Had I been turning to speak to Him briefly, only to dart off again at the changing of the traffic light, or at the ring of the telephone? I was "catching God on the run" not meditating on His goodness, not waiting on His instructions.

Bowing my head, I asked for His forgiveness, apologized for neglecting my Savior's attempts at conversing with me. We had a long talk that night. Oh, yes, God does talk to us. Those little thoughts that just "pop" suddenly into your mind while you pray are often the silent voice of a loving Lord, correcting, guiding, loving you. The sudden remembrance of a certain Bible verse is God nudging your heart. The face that suddenly flashes before you as you pray is God telling you to pray immediately for that person.

Oh, yes, God speaks to me...sometimes softly, sometimes in thunderous tones when I refuseto acknowledge His gentle correction.

After prayer, I pulled out a piece of paper and penned the above "poem." But I really didn't have an ending verse. Years later, when re-reading it, I added:

Today...

I didn't try to catch God on the run...

I sat down and waited for Him to appear to me

after I'd read my Bible,

after I'd prayed.

I listened for His voice

and a little bird suddenly banged

against my windowpane.

I looked up to see the sun shining,

the flowers blooming and the little bird

hanging onto the molding of the window.

"All is well, All is well," he seemed to say.