Ready, Set, Go

Well today kicks off the A-Z challenge. Today’s theme is the letter “A”. Lots of “a” words come to mind but the one sticking out to me at the moment is available. If you call my phone on a regular basis, from time to time my answering machine is bound to pick up with a recording, which says “sorry I’m not available to take your call right now but please leave a message.” When calling others, one of the messages I dislike the most is “the mailbox is full please try your call later”.


With the use of cell phones, instant messenger, and emails, one’s ability to be reach has certainly been expanded. Before the widespread use of such technology, the car was a quiet place to unwind from the days happenings. Vacations were sacred getaways but now even there we are available to be reached. DVR and TIVO make television programming available to be watched later at a more convenient time.

Merriam Webster’s online dictionary defines available as present and ready for immediate use. I cannot help but wonder how many times God has attempted to reach me only to receive the message that I’m not present and ready to be used. I know that God can reach us anywhere. But just like there are times when my phone rings and I’m actually home but I don’t hear it because I’m busy being distracted by other things, I would imagine there has been times when He tried to reach me. However, my spiritual ringer was turned too low or perhaps I did not feel like talking and decided to let the answering machine pick up instead. Some calls, television shows, blog posts, and emails we can afford to miss but being unavailable to God can leave us void of valuable information for our lives. Wonder how many divine appointments I missed with the Father because I was not available.

Father forgive me for the times I've let the cares of this world make me unavailable to you. Help me to not only be present but ready to be used in service to you. Attune my ears that I might hear you.  Thank you for loving me enough to keep calling me back to you when you find that I have drifted away. ~Amen~