Imagine ants meeting for coffee

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I was watching this ant the other day. He was walking on the edge of a ledge, in a straight line. And as he walked, he walked straight into another ant. And they seemed to kiss and then pass each other.

The ant came across another ant, and the same thing happened. They greeted each other quickly and then moved on. Despite the vast amount of space around them, they walked straight into each other as though there were a paved road.

I wondered what they were communicating. I wondered what secrets they told each other in that short amount of time - surely they met for only a second. Well, off Anty went, and of course there was an identical third encounter.

Now I know ants have their own way of communication, just like bees, and most likely their topic of conversation was food, after all, ants are lifted up for being wise.

"Go to the ant, you sluggard;
consider its ways and be wise!
It has no commander,
no overseer or ruler,
yet it stores its provisions in
summer
and gathers its food at harvest."
(Proverbs 6.6-8, NIV Bible)

Today I read an email sent by The Berean, who were also considered wise in the days when the apostle Paul preached because the Bereans did not take what was preached to them as gospel, but tested the word preached by comparing it to God's Word.

The email expounded on intercession. Intercession can be translated as prayer. The origin of the word meant "to meet" and its meaning then changed to "to meet and converse". After some time it then meant "to have intimate fellowship with a person". The word further developed into meaning "a petition to a king".

So of course when I read about this development of the meaning of the word "intercession", I thought of the ant. Does it ever stop longer than a second to have intimate fellowship with another ant, or is that not part of its genetic make-up to do so? Really now, have ants not had enough time to evolve into ants who can not only meet but converse? I mean, if words can develop, why not ants?

But that is not actually what I wanted to say. My point was that I have treated God at times like that ant treated the other ants. I go straight towards him, and I meet with him, and I greet him, and then I move on. I don't stay there longer. I don't just chill and have a cup of coffee with him. What the Berean was saying was that when we pray, it is like coming face to face with God, and in his presence, we are in the presence of his power. If we stay a bit longer in his presence, he will rub off on us, but if we move on too quickly, he can't have the required effect on us.

I realise if I want to develop like words, ironically I need to stop moving. I need to simply remain in his presence so that he can develop me. Amen.

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