Nashville, TN: An oldie, but a goodie... with a little bit of personal interpretation (from Faith Field Guide):
There is a story about a 30-something woman with fabulous glasses and a foster dog trapped at home during a terrible storm. She soon realizes the condo will be flooded, and she climbs gingerly, as to not ruin her sparkly Toms, to the roof. As the waters rise, she prays to God for help. Just then, a neighbor appears in a rowboat. But the woman refuses to get in. “I’m waiting for God to rescue me,” she says.
A little while later, a sheriff’s deputy arrives in a motorboat. Still the woman refuses to get in. “I’m waiting for God to rescue me,” she says again.
Then, with the water lapping at her feet, a helicopter descends from the clouds and drops a line to the stranded woman. But she still won’t leave the rooftop. “I’m waiting for God to rescue me,” she shouts.
Inevitably, the woman drowns in the flood waters. When she arrives in heaven, the woman asks, “God, why didn’t you answer my prayer?”
“Are you crazy?” replied the Lord. “I sent you a rowboat, a motorboat, and a helicopter! Why didn’t you get in?”
Dear God:
Please help me get in.
Love, Carolyn