Be a Man

This is a simple poem of inner reflection and about how we're always asking God for certain things without taking the time to find out what He wants.  When we start to seek His will, He gives us what we want not just because He tells us to ask and receive, but especially because our wants transform and become identical to what He wants to give us.  Even more amazing is that His answers are always better than what we're originally asking for anyway.  You've probably read similar poems to this.  This is just my take on it.

Lord, help me be a man, I prayed,
    with money in my hand
    to cover every want and need
    and expenses I've not planned.

Lord, help me be a man, I prayed,
    abounding in success
But the answer never came to me
    and my checkbook's still a mess.

Lord, help me be a man, I prayed,
    with knowledge uncompared
    wisdom beyond measure,
    and foresight unimpaired.

Lord, help me be a man, I prayed,
    for when mistakes are few
Yet I'm still the biggest fool I know
    with so much learning yet to do.

Lord, help me be a man, I prayed,
    that a woman can adore
    and find in me the safe embrace
    that she's been longing for.

Lord, help me be a man, I prayed,
    who fills her every thought
But every tactic I have tried
    has thus far come to naught.

Lord, help me understand, I prayed,
    why my prayers' answers take so long.
"I've given them," a still voice called,
    "It's your questions that were wrong."

Lord, help me be the man, I prayed,
    that you would have me be.
"Now we're making progress,"
    the voice called back to me.

"It's when you first do my will,
    it's when you run my race
    that you're blessed above your asking
    and all falls into place.

2/13/04