My computer crashed yesterday. Anyone who has ever had that happen can groan and sigh along with me. It is not the same level of gravity and feeling as any of the major things that happen in our lives:  births, death, illness, wars and other catastrophes. But it still ranks on the scale as very stressful.

I have prayed, I have spoken to the computer, yelled at the computer, tried to reboot, called the (possibly mis-named) “help” desk and everything else I can think of. Finally, I had to concede that my software is corrupted and the very important project that I am working on is interrupted.

In the world of “practical spirituality” that this church is, a computer crash is an opportunity for deeper trust in God. Those annoying error messages were actually cues to “let go and let God.” Right? I guess the point is that God is in the day-to-day stuff. God exists to be honored, praised and trusted with the huge miraculous, water-parting stuff and the trivial stuff.

I have been reading a wonderful book by Madeleine L’Engle called Walking on Water: Reflections on Faith and Art. In this book she quotes a prayer/poem by Hildevert of Lavardin from the 11th century:

God is over all things
under all things,
outside all,
within, but not enclosed
without, but not excluded,
above, but not raised up,
below, but not depressed,
wholly above, presiding,
wholly without, embracing,
wholly within, filling.

May each of us be blessed with full confidence and trust, knowing that God is in the drama of everyday life.