Saturday, August 11, 2007

My dear God,

I arrived at 7:00 a.m. to rake and clear the land behind the church. Alone I recognized the wondrous gift this property would provide to all who would come seeking. Every vine I plucked up, every fallen limb, and brown leaves I placed in the wheelbarrow, revealed yet another area where contemplatives would walk searching and discovering the Master of the Universe. Within the hour many had gathered for breakfast, then spend the day working, cleaning and clearing.

When I left to prepare for a baby shower, I witnessed a father and daughter cleaning the woods near the site where we will worship outdoors next Sunday. I saw two men lifting huge stumps with a front end loader and a mother and sons raking and picking up limbs. I saw a husband and wife preparing to cook and yet another young father and son clearing the area where I had worked. I realized how beautiful the church is when working together for you.

An amazing transformation has taken place in us. We have allowed you to change our insides so our outsides could reveal a beauty only sacred mystery can design. A holy spirit sweeping continues to remove the darkness we sometimes create, leaving behind light that illumines the truth of who we are, the picture of Christ to the world. There are moments when I find myself filling up with awesome joy at the brilliance of your plan for us. How holy and trusting you are, finding yourself in us, giving us room to grow, think, plan, create, and love. Your hand print is all over the church.

The cleaning and clearing
reveals once again
your loving presence.
To allow us
inside you,
to travel around
seeing the sights
of love, peace, hope,
service, mission, ministry
is a ride
of a lifetime.
May we continue
to look up,
realizing the One
guiding us,
having restored us
from our decay,
giving us
a great work
to do.
Everything
bearing your name.

Love, Andrea