For the past few summers, Lake Ridge Community Church has organized a community Soap Box Car Derby. Kids build cars, paint them up, and then we race them down a hill together. We can’t always be sure who will win the race. Some cars have wobbly wheels, some cars hit patches of gravel. But there is one factor that is always true: kids who don’t keep their eyes on the road, swerve all over (or off of) it. Kids who are looking at their parents, at the trees, or at the other race car drivers, soon veer in strange directions. Drivers who keep their eyes on the road often make it across the finish line.
The same is true of us, in a way. What we see becomes what we aim at and shoot for. We veer in the direction of what we have our eyes on. The posture we take to the world around us shapes the values we hold in our heart. In time, we become what we love. Becoming people of character, people of faith, and neighbours who care deeply for our city depends a lot on where we are looking. When we keep our eyes on who we hope to become, we often end up in that direction.
Each day in the month of March, Lake Ridge Community Church has been praying for individuals and groups in Chestermere. Prayer changes us by turning our focus to those things that God might be showing us. “May I…” statements are a kind of prayer from the heart that help us keep our focus on what’s most important. They are simple, easy to memorize, and can be carried in our hearts. I hope that these seven daily “May I…” prayers, written by Justin McRoberts, shape the way you see yourself and others this week:
Day 1: May I love those less fortunate that I am, as well as those who have had great success. Free me from the burden of envy.
Day 2: May I cease to be annoyed that others are not as I wish they were, since I am not as I wish I was.
Day 3: May I have the eyes to see this as a good world in need of restoration rather than a bad world and an obstacle to my personal peace and rest.
Day 4: May the depth and energy of my criticism be at least equaled by the depth of my commitment to help.
Day 5: May I receive every good thing as a gift, to be celebrated with thankfulness and shared in generosity.
Day 6: May love and forgiveness for others be less and less optional.
Day 7: May love be stronger in me than the fear of the pain that comes with caring.
With love and compassion, may you step into all that God is doing in and around you this week. May you know grace and give it freely to everyone God brings across your path, or onto your back deck, or around your kitchen table. Our journey into the neighbourhood is truly a journey of the heart.
