My Sweet Lord

 My sweet lord       
Hm, my lord
Hm, my lord

I really want to see you
Really want to be with you
Really want to see you lord
But it takes so long, my lord

My sweet lord
Hm, my lord
Hm, my lord

I really want to know you
Really want to go with you
Really want to show you lord
That it wont take long, my lord (hallelujah)

My sweet lord (hallelujah)
Hm, my lord (hallelujah)
My sweet lord (hallelujah)

I really want to see you
Really want to see you
Really want to see you, lord
Really want to see you, lord
But it takes so long, my lord (hallelujah)

My sweet lord (hallelujah)
Hm, my lord (hallelujah)
My, my, my lord (hallelujah)

I really want to know you (hallelujah)
Really want to go with you (hallelujah)
Really want to show you lord (aaah)
That it wont take long, my lord (hallelujah)

Hmm (hallelujah)
My sweet lord (hallelujah)
My, my, lord (hallelujah)



I was washing my dishes yesterday, part of a cooking endeavor and I always have the radio on as it just makes it easier to work. A George Harrison tune came on and I found myself singing to "My Sweet Lord," when it hit me, the intensity of the words, "I really want to see you....I really want to see you, Lord!" and it took me back to the many times that I prayed to see God, to have Him right next to me so that it would be easier to know exactly what it is I am supposed to do in a particular situation. To have that face to face talk without second guessing what the answer is. In the song also, the singer is not only asking to "see" God, but also giving praise...(halleluiah!) after every intonation. This should be an example to us all. Instead of feeling frustration or anger that our prayers aren't answered on the spot, maybe seek discernment as to "why" we can't always get what we want. God is not a genie, He doesn't snap his fingers and make it so; perhaps He can see something that we in our feeblemindedness can't!

It is said that prayer is having a conversation with God. Catholics have litanies, the rosary, Adoration before the Eucharist, and many other ways of praying. Yet whenever I tried to do any number of these ways, I would feel lost, my mind would wander, then there were the thoughts that I surely must be going to hell, for why else could I not stay in the moment? But to me, it seemed repetitious...monotonous...and I wondered if God were really listening? Isn't it better to be impulsive...to feel gratitude when the heart felt it, to feel sorrow, to feel angry when it seems as if nothing will ever be right again? I am reminded of the boastful Pharisee and the sinner, both in the temple. The Pharisee waxed long and loud about how good he was, while the sinner beat on his chest and prayed simply, "have mercy on me, a sinner!" (Luke 18:9-14)

Having that daily conversation with God can make it easier to understand when a prayer is actually answered and when it may not be. Always praying with Faith, always acknowledging gratitude, even on the worst days, can make what we may think to be a huge folly become small potatoes! I understand that there are times we see a criminal get away with murder while an innocent person dies too young. I feel the pain of seeing countries in continual war, of people going hungry, of cancer taking the life of a baby, of the tragedy of September 11th, of so many things. We pray, we try to understand and after all is said and done, we still question "WHY???" We rail Heaven with anger, with pain, then we turn our backs on God, feeling that if He doesn't care, then to hell with Him...am I right? Haven't we ALL been there?
Yes...yes we have.

Then I think of Jesus on the day of His crucifixion. Of how He suffered...of His agony. Do you think God also suffered? Oh yes, God suffered so much, just as He does when all of His children hurt.

My own example: In 2000 I was diagnosed with a double whammy, lupus as well as rheumatoid arthritis. In 13 years I have gone from a dynamo to simply shuffling about on good days and let's not even talk about the bad days, when the pain is so bad....yes, I admit I want to throw in the towel and be done with it. It takes so much effort to call out to God and beg for some relief (think Jesus on the cross.) Yes, there are times when I think I am in it all alone. There are many times, though, when I really think about it and know that I am not. That is when I see something many would consider  no big deal: a butterfly on a flower, the sounds of birds singing, the migration of trumpeter swans...so many little miracles that God gives me to show that He is still here with me. I just have to believe. Faith tells us to look UP when all we really want to do is to look down and just keep moving--or give up.

Take all of your concerns, your fears, your worries, yes, but also the many gratitudes that you feel to God. Just look around you, can you feel gratitude? Then burst out in a quick, "wow, God, that was wonderful!" It's what is known as an epiphany...when you are hit with something so wonderful that you just must share it! Then, share that joy with all you meet! Cultivate a sense of joy, of wonderment. Always find the blessing with what you may consider a curse. Soon, you too will be singing, "My sweet Lord, I really want to see you..." and mean it!