Ah, Autumn! That wonderful time of year when the leaves turn colors, temperatures cool, and the stink bugs multiply in numbers.
While sitting in my hermitage on retreat, I’ve lost count of how many of those little guys I’ve seen in the last couple of days. Let’s just say, far too many than I should see.
If you weren’t aware, the reason we call these stink bugs is that if you step on one, crush one with your fingers, or swat one with a fly swatter, it lets out a very nasty odor – and it really lingers in the air (and your fingers) for quite some time.
Why do I bring this up? Well, seeing all these little bugs got me thinking about life in general. How often do we step into something (or even onto something) that gets us into a sticky situation? Our choices could be to ignore it or accept the consequences and move on. Other times, we may need to squash the whole thing and start over. (Sometimes you’re the windshield; sometimes you’re the bug.) You could find yourself in a very stinky situation.
When faced with what seems like a no-win situation, it’s best to stop what you’re doing and take it to prayer. You may not receive an immediate answer, but the pause alone might be enough to clear your mind so you can make your next move and hopefully avoid what’s really bugging you.
Therefore I tell you, all that you ask for in prayer, believe that you will receive it and it shall be yours. ~Mark 11:24
The goal is to be persistent in our prayer life. Read more about it here.
