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Prayer Lessons
at Morrow Dam I spent the last week and a half doing something I don't ordinarily do — operating a hydroelectric power plant. The experience has taught me some valuable lessons about prayer that I would like to pass along.
There is power in the river, even though it flows gently, just like there is power in God. But the power in the river is untapped power until it is run through a turbine and converted into electricity. Lesson # 4: In a similar way, God's power is untapped in our lives until we release it through prayer.
One final thought. There is no indoor plumbing at Morrow Dam; lots of river water, but no facilities. My time there makes me more appreciative of the small things in life — like indoor plumbing — and it's been a nice diversion from my regular routine. I hope the lessons stay with me as I return to my church duties in Grand Rapids. |
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My
daily routine was different from my normal routine. I arrived for work
before the sun came up, which is unusual for me (I'm not normally a morning
person.) Morrow Dam is located on a secluded track of land at the end
of Morrow Lake in Comstock, Michigan. The powerhouse is a glass structure
and the scenery in any direction is beautiful, particularly with the snow
on the ground. Often there is wildlife that wanders into view. Lesson
#1: This isn't really a new lesson but just to take the time
to worship God and thank Him for His wonderful creation.
The
day begins with taking readings to be sure that everything is working
properly and to determine the flow of the river and make adjustments accordingly.
The work day ends with the same readings. Lesson
#2: Our day should begin with "taking readings" to
determine the flow of the day and end with the same. By the way, the readings
at the dam are recorded in a permanent log and highlights are reported
to the supervisor each morning. In other words, there is accountability.
Lesson #2b: Maybe we need more accountability
for our prayer life?
The
day for an operator doesn't end after eight hours. An operator must be
on call 24 hours a day and must reside within 15 minutes of the dam. For
me, that meant spending some nights at a motel nearby, ready to respond
if an alarm went off. Lesson #3: We
are on call to pray — 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Besides the
regular times we spend in prayer, we must be ready to pray whenever there
is an alarm and God pages us.
In
really cold weather — like we had last week — ice builds up
on the gates. This can be a real problem, so it must be removed by chipping
it away or even melting it off. In the summer, the problem can be debris
that flows into the dam and must be removed. Lesson
#5: Sin can obstruct the flow of our prayers and must be dealt
with right away. It can be really hard work, like chipping ice off the
gates, but it has to be done.