Morning Prayer 7/100. A warning

A warning

A warning

A warning given — and received — during my early morning run.

The day was dawning bright and warm. Many walkers were out and everyone was friendly. With all of them I shared a wave or a smile or a “Good morning!”

Approaching a single walker from behind, I issued my customary warning. I lightly, quickly scraped my running shoe sole on the sidewalk. The sound is a short combo of shriek and scratch. Not as bad as fingernails on a chalkboard, but an attention-getter. And I do it only so I don’t really shock someone by running up beside them. (Many are plugged in and listening to someone, something, somewhere else.)

She jumped a few inches off the ground. She almost lost her balance as she landed and turned to face me at the same time. She was frightened first and angry second. “You shouldn’t do that!” she warned me.

And she was right. My warning for her missed its mark, hit the wrong button and even did what was my intention to avoid: it shocked her. I smiled and slowed and said, “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you.”

As I ran on, I realized surprises are relative. My alarm surprised her. Her reaction surprised me. Sure, some surprises are not as bad as others, but it pays to consider how one feels about surprise.

And sometimes we surprise ourselves. I’ll replace my shoe-scrape alarm with a softly spoken, “I’m about to pass you.” I’ll say it loudly enough for the elsewhere listeners.

Living, loving good friend God,
We need no warning of your Love.
We need no warning of your Peace.
We need no warning of our Joy.
We are blessed with all of these and more.
All we must do is remind ourselves of your Presence:
love, peace, and joy.
No shoe-scraping, not even any “Here I come” announcements.
Unless we wish to urge ourselves, keep in mind and heart
our Oneness with you, with those who share our paths.
Thank you, God, for all we have from you
and all we love that we are from you.
And so it is. Amen.

Love and blessings,

Tim

07/14/2015