February 10
When the Day Changes
The morning began with quiet prayer and a reasonable plan. By noon, a delay has rearranged everything. We feel cheated, as though preparing ourselves spiritually should have earned a more cooperative day. The irritation may be understandable. It also shows how easily seeking guidance can turn into expecting protection from interruption.
The situation in front of us is now different from the one we prayed about. We can meet it with the same willingness, even if the willingness has become less cheerful. Perhaps something must be postponed, somebody needs an explanation, or a promise needs to be renegotiated honestly. None of that means the morning prayer failed. Conscious contact belongs in the changing hours as much as in the quiet beginning. Asking again can bring us back to the day that is actually happening, with its inconvenient but still quite real opportunities to be considerate.
How does my prayer change when the day refuses my original plan?
The afternoon is here, and God is still welcome in it.
For the A.A. nerds: Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, Step Eleven, pp. 102–103.