How Long Has It Been?
Dr. John Wm. Roberts, ED.D., Contributing Writer
There are times, during daily activities, a person comes to mind. It makes us stop and think… “How long has it been since I’ve spoken to this person?” There have been many times this has happened to me, and, of course, others. We get so busy with responsibilities…professional and familial…we forget to stay in contact with those who may have had an important role in our lives. It is not out of callousness; however, it is because we let other things, such as jobs, professions, personal aspirations and relationships take precedence in our lives.
There are many things which we don’t forget to do, i.e., going to our places of employment, paying bills, attending professional and social events. These things, we feel, are very important parts of our responsibilities to ourselves and others. Yet, there is one responsibility we seem to forget routinely…speaking to the author and finisher of our life…God!
Rev. Thomas Mosie Lister [1921-2015], in 1956, wrote “How Long Has It Been?” Scholars have wondered if this was an introspective statement. Whether these scholars agree, it is worth noting it is something each of us should ask ourselves…just how long has it been since we’ve talked with the Lord? Just as we, often, take friends and family for granted, we, quite frequently, take God for granted…not taking the time to thank Him for the many things…great and small…He does for us each minute of each day. Rev. Lister asks…”How long has it been since you talked with the Lord and told Him your heart’s hidden secrets? How long since you prayed? How long since you stayed on your knees till the light shone through? How long has it been since your mind felt at ease? How long since your heart knew no burden? How long has it been since you knelt by your bed and prayed to the Lord up in heaven? How long since you knew that He’d answer you, and would keep you the long night through? How long has it been since you woke with the dawn, and felt that the day’s worth the living? Can you call Him your friend? How long has it been, since you knew that He cared for you?
I am guilty of not being in contact with God as often as I should. How about you? Prayer is an integral part of our spiritual connection and obligation to God. It should never be…How long has it been, but…how often it is we talk to and with God! Many gospel artists have recorded the song, “Sending Up My Timber;” however, the version by Thomas Dorsey is a personal favorite. One phrase of the chorus reiterates our need to be in constant contact with God…”may be morn, night or noon, I don’t know just how soon, But I’m sending up my timber every day.”
No matter what time of the day, there is no right or wrong time to talk to God. I will not let the question be asked of me…”How Long Has It Been?” God is never too busy to hear our prayers – we should never be to busy to be in contact with Him using the one method of contact uniquely individual…Prayer!
