But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
(Matthew 6.6 NRSV)
Have you ever noticed that communication is difficult business? In the book AMERICA'S DUMBEST CRIMINALS there is a story about a blundering, wannabe robber with speech difficulties in Thibodaux, Louisiana, who just couldn't win for losing. Sam Lincoln entered Bob's Cafe and, speaking in his thick, backwoods Cajun accent, ordered the waitress to "give me all the money." Unfortunately, she couldn't understand a word he said. To her it sounded like he was ordering "a sieve with all the honey."

In desperation, Sam turned to a patron and told him to hand over all his money. The diner could have sworn that Sam said to "live a big pile of bunny." When the patron couldn't understand him either, Sam got so frustrated that he pulled out his gun. He pulled the trigger. Click. The gun wouldn't fire. Now Sam grabbed the cash register and began to run. But he didn't get far only about three feet. The register was still firmly plugged into the wall, and he quickly ran out of cord. The register was jerked out of Sam's hands, and he fell. Humiliated and frustrated, he ran out of Bob's Cafe empty-handed. Waitresses and patrons breathed a sign of relief. Someone hefted the register back up to its place on the counter. But five minutes later, Sam was back. This time, he made sure he unplugged the register before making off with it. Sam was ecstatic for about three feet. A bystander knocked Sam down and made a citizen's arrest.

Communication is difficult, but even under the best of circumstances it is problematic. How many times have you heard the phrase, "What we have here is a failure to communicate"?

Don’t let that be true about your communication with God.

Let us pray.

Loving God, thank you for listening. In Jesus name, Amen.

Ron Newhouse

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