Monday, April 9, 2007

Dear God,

We humans have a need for balance. When we feel off kilter, we work to restore our balance. I have loved ones that want to return balance to me.

Yesterday in my Easter message I shared my Easter tradition of rising early to hear the birds sing of Easter. Every year I stand on my patio listening for the birds singing about an empty tomb, a risen Lord. It's always a grand moment in my celebration of the resurrection. But this year there was no sound, no melodious praise, nothing. I went outdoors three times. I didn't hear even one bird.

After preaching the message I had people tell me that they hoped my birds would return. Another told me not to worry because the birds were at church. Someone else told me they talked about it on the way home and they were sure there was some reason why the birds didn't sing. But they hoped I would hear them soon. Interesting!

The point of all this is that at times balance needs to be off. We need to feel the shift, don't we? You move us, knock us off center so we are enabled to look around, check things out, see what is different, what moved us. We need to cry out, "Hey..." Only then can we see from a ground perspective. When I'm standing upright in my own center, my vision is colored in a particular way. When I'm laying on the ground, the vision changes.

I haven't figured out why the birds didn't sing or why they weren't even at my home. I need the moments you give me to think, reflect, ponder. Otherwise, my life will be the same day after day after day. I will never need you more than yesterday. I need a life ever changing, keeping me at the feet of Your son. I want a life like this. Well, I don't like it always. But off balance days are teaching days. And I am grateful.

My true center
where my equilibrium
is maintained
is when I stand
with you.
Anywhere else
and I'm done in.
I'm dizzy,
light headed.
I'm confused,
lost,
without direction.
My balance
is perfect
when we stand together,
in sync,
if you will.
When I stand alone,
I can't maintain myself.
Oh, I could,
but what do I have?
A life maintained.
I want more.
A life with the Creator.
A life with God.
A life with pizzazz
because that's what a life with God
is.
I have to examine
where in my life
the birds are not singing.
Oh, crud.

Love always, Andrea