Sunday, September 24, 2006

My dearest God,

She wrote me a note. A courageous woman who left her abusive home for a ride on an angel's wings at a shelter. She said no to more abuse, to certain death.

I heard evidence of rising out of the heap of ash, of moving upward out of the darkness into the light, the light of heaven, of paradise, of beauty and goodness, the place where only Love exists, love for all children. She wrote of the parable of leaving home, the prodigal child. God hiding from this one who left, content to eat pig food.

Then finding God, returning home, the welcome and celebration. New life, worthy to spend the rest of her days in joy with God.

My own soul soared at the new life being expressed through her writing. Her rising from the ash heap of a burned life reminds me of resurrection. Not even a beating can keep God's own from rising into new life. Neither death on a cross for Jesus. Resurrection has awaited her and now she lives within this resurrected life. A new woman, a new face, a new hope, a new life.

I just offered her the Lord's Supper once. I listened to her grief. I put my arms around her, God's embrace for a sad, hurting child. That's all. She did the rest.

She is overcoming her past, a long series of abuse. She will shine like the one bright star in the sky, giving joy and a sense of awe to all those who are willing to look up. She will know the place she has left, never to return. And she will feel the warmth of the light all around and within her. The wonder of God shining brilliantly through her. A Savior's love will make it happen.

Daily I see the light of Christ appearing. Not some manipulation of the mind, but rather real lives, real stories where God is walking, making a difference, sharing His great love, changing people. Life is meant to be lived in Love. And the Love is designed to be shared.

This glowing of the Spirit is never to be possessed, but rather shared like the bread broken for the world. I can eat a whole loaf and be filled, but I am only one. But when the bread is offered to all, we are many, of the Light, of the Love, of the Joy. And sharing the bread is so fun, so meaningful, looking into the starving souls and offering the Bread of Life and witnessing first hand the mysterious power held within the leaven.

One changed life makes the whole earth shake. Because the earth is held in God's hands and when God smiles or laughs with joy, the whole world shakes with Him. My eyes have seen this wonder, this magnificent event. And to experience it is never to return to the days before.

As the song goes,
"Mine eyes have seen the glory
of the coming of the Lord;
he is trampling out the vintage
where the grapes of wrath are stored;
he hath loosed the fateful lightning
of his terrible swift sword;
his truth is marching on.
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
His truth is marching on."

Yours for eternity, Andrea