What else did I say?

The life of a post-operative nurse must never be boring. I wonder if they have to sign some sort of confidentiality waiver? Yesterday, my colonoscopy went off without a hitch. I received a good report and am scheduled for another procedure in five years. Pretty happy about this.

In the suite, the last thing I remember was the anesthesia nurse telling me to breath deeply ten times and then darkness set in. (I think I was on deep breath number four when the lights went out. The next thing I remember was a place of peace and I felt no reason to leave. Unfortunately, I have no recollection of any details in the place. Nothing! (I believe the place occurred as I came out of anesthesia.) The next thing I saw was the post-op nurse standing in front of me with a cup of coffee. She said, "Here's your coffee." I mumbled through drug induced stupor, "How did you know I wanted coffee?" She replied, "You told me." Really?

I clearly don't remember saying I wanted coffee. Hmmm, did I really say it and I wonder what else I said I don't recall? Possible things come to mind and many of them would sound hilarious to be sure (maybe even embarrassing).

How often do I say things through the course of the day that others hear and I forget?

Or.....how often do I say things to the Lord with good intention and then never follow through? Is it a thing that we all struggle with at some level? Perhaps the best approach to this dilemma is to choose words wisely. In some cases, words may just need to be avoided.

"Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of

fools, who do not know that they do wrong. Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your

heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few.

(Ecclesiastes 5:1-2, NIV)

If we were to consider God's divine ability to know our thoughts and motives, would we think differently? Would our motives be less inward focused and more outward directed? How God must chuckle at some of the things we think and say.

Much like the post-op nurse, God stands ready to offer us what we request. Better still God seeks to give us infinitely more than what we ask for and our initial reaction is to assume we don't deserve the goodness God offers. Is our heart and mind affected by an anesthesia of worldliness and pride? Are we intoxicated with guilt, shame, and unworthiness?

Today, allow God to inspect your heart, your mind, heck, your colon too! Allow the removal of anything that hinders your faith to grow and flourish. Walk with God today and allow the Divine to restore a vibrancy to your witness and service in the world. Oh, and here is your coffee.....