Tuesday, July 3, 2007

Dearest God,

I have felt a driving force to share more of my inner life with my grandchildren. I began this morning. Gabrielle is seven, intuitive, in touch with God and the varying levels of faith. She’s a super sensitive child, picking up naturally on feelings and anxieties.

We started planning this day more than a year ago. Gabrielle would join me in the early morning dance of the spirit. She had insisted we get matching dance clothing so I invited her to pick them out. A lavender leotard with a pale purple pointed edge sheer skirt. We put on our leotard and shorts, then carried our skirts with us in the car. Once at the ocean, we took off our shorts and pulled on our skirts. We sat in the beach chair for the first lesson.

“Gabrielle,” I started out, “we never wear our skirts to the ocean. We prepare ourselves first to dance with God. And we dance with God to express our love for God. We quiet our self, breathing in God’s spirit. When we are ready, we put on our skirt. Then we silently walk to the edge of the water. We open our hands at our side and palms up, ready ourselves to hear God.” Gabrielle stood facing the sun with her palms up and out. She looked absolutely beautiful. The sun’s rays kissed her face as the breeze gently tossed her skirt about. Her rich, golden skin glowed as her honey brown curls bounced with the wind. “I feel God in all creation, Grandma.” She told me immediately.

“This is the moment when we stand quietly looking upward at the sun." I told her. "We feel the warmth of the sun upon us and we pray although we don’t say any words. This is the time we wait until something comes to us. Then we begin to move.” I told hecontinued, as if she needed to hear it. She was already hearing something.

We both began to move, gesturing to the God of the universe, to you Almighty God. Gabrielle whirled and twirled, raising her hands up, sometimes looking to me for direction. And I was wishing I had brought a camera to capture this prized moment. My joy with God came as I watched this young girl express her love for you. She danced for just a few minutes; then she began looking around, picking at the sand. “What are you looking for, Gabrielle?” I asked her. “A rock." She answered. "A rock, why do you need a rock?" I inquired. "I want to send God a message.” She responded. “What is your message?” I asked her. “That God is the God of all creation.” I asked nothing more. We simply looked for our rocks to send you a message; then we sent them flying into the water.

By the time we left, I wasn’t quite sure who the teacher was. A grandmother teaching the keys of the spiritual life or a grandchild teaching the elements of faith.

Most Holy God,
you appear in majesty
when your children
are open to your presence.
Clearly you speak to us
as beloved.
Today I saw you
in the radiance
of my dancing granddaughter,
a child of God
if there ever was one.
These moments
are sealed forever
in my spiritual treasure box.
My heart
will forever be grateful
for generational spiritual gifts.

Humbly yours, Andrea