Monday, February 26, 2007

Dear God,

The truth was told. The whole truth. Freedom at last. "You will know the truth and the truth will set you free." That's what Jesus said, recorded in the Bible. Big concept. And true.

A person I know finally blurted out the whole truth to her sister last weekend. Lead by an inner calling to tell the rest of the story, she no longer carries the burden of the past. "I'm centered, God is finally at the center." The person proclaimed to me.

Feeling freer than ever before in her life, she has witnessed untold pain and suffering. Past family sins robbed her and her siblings of the "good life." And each one is slowly crawling up and out of the darkness that has ruled their lives for decades. This woman has made it to the center of God who awaited her coming for years. The power under her wings to move her is the power of the Holy Spirit. "This is the best chance my family has for healing." She assured me. Hard, painful work has lead her to this hour.

I've heard a lot of stories both in the Bible and in human life of persons who moved from death to life. It's a true story being told. It is possible to live in a dead body and/or soul and to move into life. Lazarus was rotting away after dying. It's what the body does, decays. But when Christ enters, the Bible says, the dead bones begin to move and the flesh reaches to flesh allowing the healing to begin. Lazarus was unbound by those around him. He remained a living being for years to come.

Such witnesses give hope to those around them. When darkness turns into light or death into life, the human mind can hardly conceive what is happening. It is a bold move on God's part. At the same time, the human is stirring, like a butterfly readying itself to break away from the dark, confining cocoon.

We do not have to remain in our same state or condition. The mystery of faith opens us to a new avenue that can lead us to change, transformation. Human and divine cells living and working together can alter themselves into new shape and form. How I can't say. I don't know how it happens or even why. I just know it is possible. It has happened to me many times. Some people are skeptical, wanting a purely human explanation. But 26 alphabetical letters put together in many ways is still not enough to explain this extraordinary event.

Sometimes we can only see the world in one way, with blinders on. Yet, a tiny shift, almost infinitesimal, can shed new light on the subject. Amazing, we can tell ourselves, as we see something new, something we had not seen before. The unique information gives us opportunity to draw new conclusions, take new steps, new approaches to life. It's that simple.

What happens next can be painful. Others who are mired in the past cannot see what you are seeing. They do not have the same capacity to change. The ugliness of the past holds them firmly in their grip and sadly they wish to stay because it is too frightening to move into the unknown, the perceived fearful unknown. We can only pray for courage and strength and give grounded support until such time they take our hand, hold on tight, then begin to wiggle and squirm. Life can be different. You don't have to remain trapped forever.

Glorious and wonderful God,
life is full
of possibility.
Every moment
is filled with change.
Atoms taking hold of other atoms,
letting go of others.
Life is fully changing.
Yet,
One remains constant.
God is living among us,
sprinkling hope upon us
like fairy dust.
Second, third, and fourth chances.
Innumerable opportunities
for life transformation.
Grant us courage and strength
to let go, to release, to surrender
the darkness
that sucks us downward.
Help us to search
for the upward ray of light
that fills the crack somewhere.
Then give us the ability,
the capacity to squirm and wiggle
our way out
keeping an eye always on the Light.
For You are the Light,
the Light in our lives.

Always yours, Andrea