O God, you are my God, I seek you, my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory. Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you. So I will bless you as long as I live; I will lift up my hands and call on your name.
My soul is satisfied as with a rich feast, and my mouth praises you with joyful lips when I think of you on my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of the night; for you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I sing for joy. My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.

-Psalm 63:1-8 (NRSV)
 

I had broken my ankle and was using crutches for the first time in my life. This posed some challenges as I live alone, have no family nearby, and have stairs to climb inside my home. Friends from church stepped in to help, taking me to doctor appointments and bringing me groceries or meals.

I was grateful for their help, but I observed that doing something for me seemed easier for them than spending time with me. Sometimes what I needed most was for someone to stay a while, to share a meal, or to listen to my thoughts and concerns. Of course I realized that with my usual busy schedule, I might have helped someone quickly but not spent time with them.

That's when it dawned on me: Don't I do the same with God? For me to do one more act of kindness or one more task in the church is easier than to stop and spend time with God, the one in whose name I do them. This episode helped me hear more clearly the Lord's knocking on the door of my heart.

Jacquelin Deatcher (New York, USA)