I was on my way to the hospital today and had yet to eat. I mean at all – no breakfast, no nothing. It was raining and I was in a bit of a hurry for many reasons. The food places on the way to the hospital left something to be desired and my home, also on the way, didn’t have anything worth stopping for, either. Just as I was about to commit to visiting the hospital first and grabbing something to eat later – 1:30 ish – I saw a new sandwich shop on the corner that I had seen before, but hadn’t tried.

When it comes to food, I’m not that adventurous. I prefer the tried and true, especially if I am going to pay for that food. I hate to feel I’ve spent money and then decide it was a waste.

Nevertheless, of late I have been trying things that I don’t usually try. I don’t know why I am doing it, but my wife seems both confused and pleasantly surprised. Not to belabor the point, I think this newfound desire to explore drew me into the “Which Wich?” sandwich store at 61st and Memorial.

The hook on this store is that they have about 10 different categories of sandwiches and several varieties of each category. Under the big menu is a rack of paper sacks, different sacks for each category. First you pull the paper sack and then you mark the sandwich and fixins on the sack with a red permanent marker. At the bottom, you write your name. You walk over and hand the sack to the person working the register, pay for the sandwich and whatever else you care to buy, and wait for it to be made. All sandwiches are $4.50, no matter what sandwich you get.

I guess I was awash in experimentation, as I got a sandwich I have never before ordered and waited. In a few minutes the sandwich maker yelled really loudly, “I’ve got a hot ‘wich’ for Art! Art!” I jumped up and grabbed it before he hollered my name that loudly again.

I walked over to a table and sat down with my hot “wich,” a drink and some baked chips. You know the “healthy” chips. It was raining and I sat and ate by myself while watching the rain.

It amazes me where your mind is able to go when you aren’t watching tv, listening to music or even just being around another person. I had the idea for about four enormous blog posts in about 20 minutes while I ate. The sandwich was good, too.

I’m going to start with this post for several reasons. First, it is the easiest to write. Second, the others will make more sense if you understand the whole background of “Which Wich?” and how it works. Third, it was the first thing I thought of as I sat down.

As I sat to eat, several people, perhaps not as gifted with the intuitive nature that I so easily displayed in processing my order, came in and asked what to do and how to do it. I listened as the workers there explained the ordering process, then repeated it for the next group. Select a sandwich from the menu, get the appropriate bag from the rack, mark the individual stuff you want on the sandwich with the pen on the bag, write your name, then pay. All you have to do is wait, then hot deliciousness will be soon forthcoming.

It works for sandwiches. It was pretty good, too. You don’t have to struggle with too much information or interaction and it doesn’t take long for your meal to show up. They shout your name as if you were a rock star and then you get fed. Not a bad price. I highly recommend you give it a try.

For a meal.

The disturbing thought that crossed my mind was just how much this reminded me of the prayer time of the average Christian. I know, because it reminds me of my prayer time.

I have a journal that I write in during my devotional time. When it comes to prayer time, I write out sections of prayer and then pray through them. I spend time in worshipful adoration, confession and thanksgiving. Honestly, though, the bulk of my prayer time is often caught up in my list of requests.

How often do we treat time with God as an order form with really little interaction?

Here’s my list, God. I’d like this answer to prayer with these specific toppings and a side of “help this guy out,” too, with a drink of “bless the missionaries.” While you get right on serving up my hot deliciousness, I’ll wait just over here. Just waiting. Patiently, because I know there are a lot of things going on and Your timing is best and all, but I am still just waiting. Hovering near the place where I am to pick up my order. You didn’t lose it did you? I see the sack hanging on the wire and I know my order is up soon.

I’ll just be over here.

How patient is God to even allow us to approach Him – even if this is the way we are doing it?

Time with God is not means to an end, but the ultimate end in itself. That God blesses us and answers our needs, hears us express them and meets with us in that time is one of the smallest of our privileges as His children.

The richness of our blessing is that we get to talk to Him about our thoughts – just to express them – and who we are, but the biggest part of our blessing is that we get to listen to Him. Not just listen for answers to pleas for direction, but also just to listen to WHATEVER HE WANTS TO SAY.

I am amazed at what He says to me when I don’t set the agenda, either by bringing an order to fill or just talking about my concerns.

I’ll tell you about that sometime, but this thought brings me to my next several posts: Experience, the Bible, Soren Kierkegaard and the Christian walk. I’ll get to those soon.

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