Meridian Street United Methodist Church
Weekly E-pistle
March 11, 2010
“What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear! What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer! O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear, all because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.” ~Joseph Scriven
Last summer I picked up a little magazine dedicated to Sudoku, puzzles that put together the numbers 1-9 in various configurations. The puzzle is organized in 3x3 blocks (three rows of 3 boxes each) and then three blocks in a row. Periodically within the blocks are predetermined numbers and the challenge is to get the numbers 1-9 in each 3x3 block and the numbers 1-9 vertically and horizontally only using each number once. If you play Sudoku, this may make sense; if you don’t, I totally understand that you do not care. I did not care until last summer. Over time, it has occurred to me that Sudoku offers a model for problem solving in life.
To really accomplish the task of putting the puzzle together, you look at the 3x3 blocks to fill in the numbers, but then you also have to look horizontally across one row of numbers and vertically at a separate column of numbers. You cannot just stay within the box; you must look outside the box and see how the other numbers in the puzzle affect the whole.
So often in life, we put on blinders when it comes to solving a problem. We come at the problem with one answer and then just keep returning to that answer even if it does not bring us a real solution. We get stuck in a pattern trying something over and over and over again without reaping the desired results. However, the intentional, ongoing practice of prayer opens us to the leadings of the Spirit which may indeed open not only our heart, but also our mind to consider a new approach to the problems before us. The old adage, “there is nothing new under the sun” gives us the encouragement that whatever problems we are facing, have been faced by others who have gone before us. Solutions do exist. Through prayer we are engaged with the creative Spirit of God providing us with new energy, new inspiration and new ways of living our days.
Maybe you are stuck in a rut with a challenge in your life. Maybe you wake up every day with the same problem, but no real solution. Take a tip from Sudoku. Try and look at your problem from a new perspective. In this season of Lent, dedicate yourself to prayer and open yourself to the leading of the Holy Spirit. Allow God to offer you a sense of renewal, a new perspective and who knows, even a solution to what troubles you.
Prayer: Jesus the Christ, Son of God and friend to all, you bring us hope for this life and the promise of life eternal. Knowing as you do, Lord, forgive our reluctance to trust in you and remove from us our resistance to your teachings. Help us to grow ever more dependent upon you and allow your Holy Spirit to lead us toward wholeness. Hear us as we place before you the challenges in our lives knowing that you not only care, but that you hold the answers to our dilemmas. Hear us as we pray…