Wednesday, May 2, 2007

Dearest God,

An array of motivating speakers made for a long day but the inspiration never stopped. Persons who figured out their purpose and are doing it very well taught us about fulfilling ours. I walked away affirmed that I am fulfilling mine.

Many one-liners made me realize I am doing it right. "Do things out of the ordinary." "Make life-changing decisions. Put it all on the line." Think outside the box." "Change the rules of the game." "Use innovations others aren't using." "Be yourself." All leadership musts if you want to be successful in what you are doing.

I learned so much, was very inspired, and had fun with 30,000 people singing and dancing to "Surfin' USA" and hitting beach balls that bounced all over the dome. Do it different. Don't be afraid to risk.

But the most poignant line came in the final minutes of the conference. An African proverb. "When you are preparing for the journey, you own the journey, but after the journey, the journey owns you." I wrote it down. Felt it. It's true.

I am sure my journey to God began at the beginning. But my conscious awareness took a new turn during my renewal leave. And since then the journey has owned me. It leads me, teaches me, guides me, gives me insights. It is awake, lively, active. I would say it stole my soul. But that's not true. I gave it my soul, my spirit too. The journey and I are one. There was a uniting of God and myself in a way I had only imagined. I had experienced the journey at peak moments in my life. But when I took those first steps on my Journey to God clergy renewal leave, I had no idea how my life would be touched or how we would merge together. We joined up and chose to remain together for the rest of my life.

I see you in everything. I am conscious of your presence every minute of the day. I don't have my spiritual life on a shelf tucked away where I take it down on occasion to get a "feel good" experience. Instead it is a conscious part of my life. I see through a spirit lens that sees God in daily living.

I saw you in many of the speakers yesterday. A divine plan, often times I heard them talk about the plan for your life. You are the plan giver and I recognize your movement in the speakers whose work it is to help others become aware of God's plan in our lives. I became even more aware of my own, your plan for me. I am where I am supposed to be, doing what I am supposed to do. If you don't take a few risks, you won't be fulfilling your own purpose. And why? Because you have not outlined a dull, boring life for anyone. You expect something of us. We have to move out of the nest; we can't sit in a nest all our lives. And that involves a risk, a true leap of faith because the nest is comfy and warm and there someone else is taking care of us. We have to move out and discover that we can fly, soar.

Today was a grand day with the motivational speakers and with you.

Like a coach
who urges their players
to believe in themselves
to take risks
to play the game
and play it well,
you urge us on.
You encourage
and give us courage.
You remind us
that not everyone
will like what we are doing.
Some will be jealous.
Some will be ticked.
Some won't approve.
But if we are on the right track with you,
we need to keep trekking.
Keep my eyes
on you.
Keep my feet
going in your direction.
Keep my soul
desiring you.
Keep my determination
on your will.
Keep me,
dear Lord,
keep me going
for you.

Love always, Andrea