Friday, September 22, 2006

My dearest God,

Bringing something to life that you know nothing about is quite a challenge! I asked Linda to make a video of my renewal leave. I supposed I would provide the pictures and explanations and she would do all the rest. Oh no! She told me it was my story, that no one could tell it but me.

I had labored with love to select all the photographs I wanted to use of my pilgrim journey. Carefully I pulled each one from their respective album (I have six) and gave them to my partner in this endeavor. She then created a storyboard with each image in place. I picked out several musical selections to add to the storyboard. She inserted the opening song right at the beginning. Then she burned a DVD. When I pushed the play button, I saw my story in its initial stage. I played it over and over again. There I was in a hot air balloon high above the Rio Grande Gorge. And holding a candle in the darkness of night at the candlelight pilgrimage in France. Then laying my hands on Akua, an infant African baby girl born on a Wednesday. My story is coming soon to the silver screen.

We have worked two long days adding special effects, putting in overlays and choosing transitions, not to mention all the work she has done alone. Identifying sites and lifting up memories has proved to be an exciting, but meaningful adventure. With just a few images left to work with and music to coordinate, I have to take a couple of planned shots, then prepare for the ending. It's a true work of art and the artist has taught me how to share my life story.

Technology is a great thing! In the near future I will have my video to help tell my personal story of God's presence in my life. It will be a joyous occasion to present my 10-12 minute video, but more than that it will be an honor and privilege to tell once again how God leads human beings on a sacred path with all its twists and turnings to a surprise ending.

When I stand back and think about it, I am filled with a feeling of mystery, how God can bestow such awe and wonder around days, weeks and months of one's own life. Yet, the greater mystery is how the storyline moves from a human story to God's story. My story simply points to God's own tale in human history.

I am always astounded how something so simple can become profound in its telling when God is present in it. What would seem to be a simplistic task is transformed in the making and God appears seemingly out of nowhere.

"Nothing yet,
nothing yet,
you ain't seen nothing yet."
The song goes.
It's true;
you ain't seen nothing yet.
An invitation to travel together,
that's what God offered me.
I put on my backpack
filled with hope and anticipation.
I took God's lead.
I followed in his footsteps,
those big prints so easy to see
and I saw the world
with spirit eyes.
And I breathed the air of my Savior.
My thousand gestures of gratitude
can never adequately convey
my thanks.
I can only pray that
the spirit rhythm of my heart
will beat exquisite love into the world.

Yours for always, Andrea