Friday Perspective: Prayers answered with opportunities

Anybody who knows me also knows that I am a movie buff. I don't just watch movies... I memorize them.

It's hard for me to watch a movie without either taking something meaningful away from it, or seeing a glimpse of my own life or my own character in it - good or bad. If good, I try to amplify it. If bad, I try to eliminate it.

For me the big screen isn't always a billboard... it's often a mirror.

I sometimes find life changing inspiration in movies. I have found personal direction in Yoda's description of the Force in "Star Wars V: The Empire Strikes Back." I take guidance on how to be a lady from Sipsy's statement about Ruth after she died in "Fried Green Tomatoes." I often remind myself of The Dude's advice to just take it easy, man, as he preached in "The Big Lebowski."

But these are troubling times we're in. Many people have lost their jobs and many more don't know how much longer theirs will hold out. Our society is facing not just economic collapse but moral decay. The national debt is so staggering that our grandchildren won't be able to pay it off. Consumer debt is at an all-time high and general morale is low.

And I turn to a movie. Specifically, "Evan Almighty."

God: I love that story, Noah and the Ark. You know, a lot of people miss the point of that story. They think it’s about God’s wrath and anger. They love it when God gets angry.

Joan: What is the story about, then? The ark?

God: Well, I think it’s a love story about believing in each other.

You know, the animals showed up in pairs. They stood by each other, side by side... just like Noah and his family. Everybody entered the ark side by side.

Joan: But my husband says God told him to do it. What do you do with that?

God: Sounds like an opportunity.

Let me ask you something. If someone prays for patience, do you think God gives them patience? Or does he give them the opportunity to be patient?

If they pray for courage, does God give them courage, or does he give them opportunities to be courageous?

If someone prayed for their family to be closer, you think God zaps them with warm, fuzzy feelings? Or does he give them opportunities to love each other?

Well, I've got to run. A lot of people to serve. Enjoy.

In these troubled times that we face, should we have our hands stuck out, begging for relief? Or should we recognize the opportunity that we've been given to step up and do for ourselves for a change?

Should we whine and complain about the differences between the haves and the have nots? Or should we each do our part to shoulder our individual responsibilities?

The people are hungry... but they're not being given a fish to feed them for one day. They're being given the opportunity to fish for themselves.

The opportunities are there. You just have to learn to recognize them.