Aside from becoming frustrated at a stoplight and wondering when it is going to change, this brief essay from OUR DAILY BREAD might just be the solution. Of course you should not "close your eyes and bow your head" but do what we can easily do, multi-task (to borrow a computer word). Complete credit and attribution is hereby given to the fine folks at RBC (Resources for Biblical Communication), also known as Radio Bible Class and years ago simply known as a program in which a former medical doctor, Dr. M.R.DeHaan taught Bible lessons. I have a little tract printed in 1942 by Dr. DeHaan on "Broken Things". M. R. DeHaan's sons, grandsons and probably other family has continued this work begun in Grand Rapids, Michigan decades ago. Their address is simply: Radio Bible Class, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49555-0001. Their INTERNET address is:
http://www.rbc.org/index.aspx

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STOPLIGHT PRAYERS

"Rejoice always, pray without ceasing." I Thessalonians 5:16, 17.

"I have discovered firsthand that Our Daily Bread readers are idea people. For instance, when I mentioned in an article a problem with ants, several readers sent in ideas about how to stop them. And when I mentioned a missionary who had arthritis, many readers submitted their remedies.

"Sometimes our readers present a different side of a topic in Our Daily Bread. For example, after I had detailed how much time we waste waiting for traffic lights to change or phone to be answered, a letter-writer made this suggestion: 'Many Christians use these precious delays to pray. You can pray for each person in the cars around you. You can pray for the people who install and maintain the traffic lights. Or you could ask God to teach you patience with all life's interruptions.'

"That suggestion expresses, I believe, one application of the instruction in today's Scripture text that we should pray without ceasing. In Ephesians 6, Paul said that prayers are a key weapon in the Christian's battle with our spiritual foe. And who knows, our prayers may even be instrumental in keeping someone from defeat.

"Today, use every opportunity to pray to the Lord, even if you are waiting at a red light."

-- J.D.B. (J. David Branon in OUR DAILY BREAD, September-October-November 1991, for Wednesday, September 11.)

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THANKS, J. David Branon for some good advice! Bill Venrick, THE WORDWRIGHT