I remember driving through southern Utah years ago and seeing big warning signs about the scarcity of gas stations. There were 100 miles or more between service centers – so you better check your gas gauge and plan accordingly. Nothing ends your journey quicker than running out of gas: when you go on a trip you need to refuel – often.

The journey of faith is similar. You and I often run up against running out of gas.

We are tempted to ask if it all really matters. If there is any more to our Christian faith than the simple projection of evolving minds that are responding to primeval, meaning-making forces? Is our belief in God anything more than a sociologically formed conception that has far more to do with the zip code in which we were born than divine transcendence?

Sigh.

Running out of gas is running out of faith – faith that there is a God, there is meaning in the universe – that my life is precious, purposeful, and irreplaceable.

And nothing puts gas into our tanks better than prayer.

In prayer we acknowledge who we are, whose we are, how we’re here, and God’s eternal ok-ness with it all. Prayer is grounding ourselves in the divine love that rules the universe. Prayer builds faith.

Nothing ends a journey quicker than running out of prayer.

When’s your next fill-up?

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Reading

A Distant Mirror – Barbara Tuchman

Monster Loyalty – Jackie Huba

Jesus the Jewish Theologian – Brad H. Young