Is God Too Busy for You?

Earlier this year I was with some friends at High Line Park in NYC. Amazing spot, by the way. One of my favorite places in the city. But I digress.

While strolling along we came across a billboard which I found thought provoking.

Interesting bit of marketing, no? “God’s too busy to help you, but we’re not. We’re all set to charge you ridiculous rates to park your car. Come see us.” But I digress again.

You’re probably expecting me to spin this around and say “No, evil parking garage, you’re wrong! God loves us and has time for our every need.” And that’s all true. Except for the parking garage being evil. They may be evil, but I don’t actually know. Probably not though. More digression.

What I meant was, that’s a legit teaching point. God actually does want us to remain in constant contact with him and we really can talk to Him about every little thing. In fact, we’re instructed to.

But that’s not why I’m posting all this. What provoked me about this billboard is the idea posited by the ad agency that created that builboard – the idea that if people are praying at all, their prayers are directed toward petty, self serving ends and expedient solutions to first world problems.

It challenged me a bit. It made me wonder – am I more likely to pray “Jesus, please just find me a parking spot” or “Jesus, thanks that I have easy access to a great city and a car to drive and eyes and hands and feet that work well enough to operate it and by the way I’d love it if a parking spot opened up but either way I’m really grateful.”

I too often pray the former and too seldom pray the latter.

How about you?