Help When Helpless

The large poster outside the church showed me that the address I had prepared would not fit this occasion.

I had mistakenly believed that I was to speak at a women’s rally.

Instead, I now saw that my audience would consist of representatives from churches around the district. I went into the church feeling numb with desperation.

What was I going to say to these good people when my turn came to address them?

I hadn’t a clue and still didn’t know even while sitting beside the pulpit, ready to be introduced as the speaker. ‘Help me, Lord!’ I pleaded.

Then into my mind came clear direction: to present gospel stories as I do with my own group. In our women’s Bible study group when looking at the gospels, we enter imaginatively into the story and become part of it.

For example, when we study the passage about the wedding at Cana, we ‘attend’ the wedding. This way of looking at the gospels is not new. It was practised by St Ignatius of Loyola.

I stood up, all fear gone, and took the congregation on several imaginary journeys into gospel scenes.

They were totally focused on my presentation and listened with rapt attention. I had once more discovered that God helps us when we admit our helplessness.

Prayer: Dear God, help us to turn to you at all times, especially when we see that we can do nothing to help ourselves. Amen