Al Mighty

Every once in a while you can get a small, poignant, message in a movie, book or story. Somehting that you don't expect, but touches home to you. That happened to me the other day when I took the family to see "Evan Almighty."

This is the sequel to "Bruce Almighty," and as it was in the first movie Morgan Freeman stole the show portraying God. During a discussion with Bruce in the first movie, Bruce is trying to make Jennifer Aniston fall in love with him (who wouldn't). Bruce has God's power, but can't force someone to love him because of free will. When he laments about his situation with God, God replies, "Welcome to my world." God doesn't want robots, and has given each of us a choice about accepting him in our lives.

In "Evan Almighty," Evan is a newly elected congressman who is trying to "Change the World." Changing the world takes time, time that he had promised with his wife and three sons. His wife holds a family prayer while Evan is working and prays for their family to be closer. Evan is asked by God to build an ark, and eventually he agrees and solicits the help of his sons. His wife freaks out and takes the sons away. And while she's out in a diner (while Evan was being mocked on TV), she confides her problems to the busboy, "Al Mighty" (Morgan Freeman).

The wife asked why God would do this to her family. God shared, "How do think God works? If someone prays for patience, do you think that person is magically made patient, or does God give that person opportunities to develop patience? If someone prays for courage, do you think God all of the sudden makes that person courageous or does he place that person in situations where they can demonstrate courage. And if someone prays for their family to be closer, does God give that family a warm fuzzy inside, or does he provide them with the time and situations to grow closer together."

From personal experience from praying for patience, I believe that is exactly how God works. And as I pray and try to discern what God has in store for me, I have to remember that God always answers your prayers, but maybe just not in the way that you expect. - 4231

"God made yeast, as well as dough, and loves fermentation just as dearly as he loves fermentation." – Ralph Waldo Emerson