Psalm 139 is a Psalm I keep re-visiting. We have an all-knowing, all-seeing God, who is aware of our every thought, our every concern. Yet how often do we turn to him, how often do we seek his counsel. The one who created us, knew us before we were born. In 1994 I was in my first year at BCNZ (now Laidlaw College) one of the things I soon realised was that in order to make sense of the changes I was facing is that I needed to keep in relationship with God first before I could make sense of other relationships. On a prayer day I wrote the following poem. Today have you got a second or two to read it?
Have you got a second?
Have you got a second?
Sorry just off to a meeting
Have you got a second?
Sorry I’m just in the middle of reading the paper
Have you got a second?
Sorry I’m on the telephone
Have you got a second?
Sorry I’m off to pick up the kids
Have you got a second?
Sorry I’m in the middle of something can’t it wait?
Dear God haven’t heard from you lately
Where’s my life going, why aren’t you saying anything?
I’m busy, but I need to know what you’re doing
Aren’t you out there, are you listening?
My life’s blurry, whirring, going before my eyes
Can’t you see me, are you there God?
My dear child, I am here, I keep knocking
My dear child, I keep saying, have you got a second?
Have you got a second? Have you got a second?
You see I have something to say to you today
Have you got a second? Have you got a second?
Child I have searched you and know you,
I know when you sit and rise
I perceive your thoughts from afar
I discern your going out and your lying down
I am familiar with all your ways
I know even before you say a thing what it is completely
I created your inmost being
I knitted you together in your mother’s womb
I saw your unformed body as it was weaved
I have ordained all the days of your life
You are fearfully and wonderfully made
My thoughts of you my dear child are precious
They are without number, my dear child I know you
I know your every need, have you got a second?
Mark Maffey, 1994