Wednesday, December 20, 2006

Dear God,

My longings for God in Advent began before December. And now Christmas is five days away. I had envisioned myself at the manger kneeling, the star shining, the angels singing, the sigh of a mother, wise ones. Musical notes, the humming of instruments, children's voices, my own voice declare, announce God's arrival. I remain in the spirit of Christ.

I was aware once again of the blessing in my life of my colleagues in faith and ministry at Bethel. We laugh so easily together, share our difficulties with one another, serve beyond the expected, and live out our faith daily. They are beautiful people God has brought together for a purpose. We are family, friends, sisters and brothers.

God always knows what God is doing when God brings people together. We may not see the deeper meaning of the relationship until later or until a situation occurs; suddenly it becomes clear.

One of the reasons God has combined this staff is what I call the growth edge. By our faith we are constantly pushed, gently, but pushed nonetheless to grow the faith we have. We recognize that faith is always the size of a mustard seed and our desire for God plunges us into growth patterns. We may not always like the pain of growth but we have a passion for it; therefore, we lunge forward into growth, taking the risks, the steps of multiplying the pockets of faith in our lives. We see one another growing like a flower that breaks through the ground, parting the soil, letting the world know they are on the move, then budding, flowering, then even letting go, dropping to the ground, seeding itself for the next season. The cycle of faith.

I could not do what I do alone. I need these growing blossoms around me. I need the challenge of breaking through, rising up toward the light. I need to see, to witness the beauty of emerging faith around me because I am reminded that faith is not stagnant, stale. It is alive just as God is alive.

Yesterday we stood in the office laughing nearly til the tears popped out. A comical incident tickled our funny bones. And we guffawed. Then we had dinner together (we were working late) and we shared ourselves, a couple dreams, friendship, the hope God offers. When we ate, we dined on spiritual food.

At Bethel I munch on the food of the spirit. In down times and high ones I still find God walking the halls, praying in the classroom, dancing in the sanctuary. I hear the music of faith, the sounds of saints humming, the love of Jesus.

I am blessed, incredibly blessed this Advent.

Blessed God,
your presence reveals,
illumines, loves.
I find the light
or maybe the light finds me.
We come together,
unite.
I can feel it
as much as
I can feel
my chest rise and fall
with the air
around me.
The gifts provided me
this Advent
are more than I could
have ever expected.
And Christmas has not yet arrived.
Wondrous God,
my spirit sings and dances,
making my offerings,
a love relationship
bound by faith.

Always, Andrea