Monday, October 8, 2007

My dearest God,

Trusting each day to your care is the number one task of the day. Rising, walking from the bed, taking medicine, straightening the house, praying. Nothing else truly matters unless I begin there.

The John Templeton Foundation has recently begun a series of conversations with scientists and scholars. A two-page ad in the New York Times addresses the first question, "Does the universe have a purpose?" With answers such as "unlikely," "yes," "no," "not sure," indeed," "certainly," "perhaps," "very likely," and "I hope so," it raises our own questions depending on how we answer this question. If the answer is yes, the next one points to a human's purpose. Do I have a purpose? If the answer is no, then the conversation by necessity dead ends there.

The book entitled, "The Purpose-Driven Life," argues that each human is born with their own unique purpose. What point is there in life if each person does not matter? Why be born in a string of births of non-purposed people?

I know my purpose. My purpose is to live a life of faithfulness to God. Every thing, every thought, action, gesture, attitude, behavior must move through the filter of this purpose. When dealing with a troubling issue, I have to consider my faithfulness to you. When my heart wells up in joy, my first thought must be gratitude to the Creator of faith and joy. My soul's reservoir is full and my task is to allow this fullness to spill out into the universe. Fulfilling my task each day leads to your own purpose being fulfilled and that is the sacred plan of love for all that exists. My teeny tiny part in that contributes to the good for all.

As I give thought to this idea first thing in the morning, I face a great challenge. How will I live out this day in faithfulness? How will I act in the face of someone's depression, loss, anger or rage? How will I address a hurt or sorrow? How will I interpret an action, a word, a misdeed? How will I express an emotion when I read more news about human trafficking, senseless murders, abuse, neglect?

I believe I must keep focused on the important questions of life. I must live in the light, return good for evil, offer love where there is none, live daily knowing my life counts to you, the universe and my neighbor whoever and wherever he/she lives. My task of faithful trusting will lead me to you, who in turn will lead me to others.

Glorious Holy One,
the questions
of the day
always
lead me to you.
Goodness, beauty and mercy
speak profoundly
your truth.
Its absence
cries out
in spiritual and emotional hunger.
Our world
is ravaged,
torn and ripped apart,
in parched soil...

Then someone
brings a bucket
filled with water.
On hands and knees
the soil is
hydrated,
breathing in life.
Another drops in
a seed.
And yet another
brings the warmth
of the sun.
The tenders
stand watch,
giving periodic nutrients
and somehow
what was once thought
impossible
now becomes possible.
The universe
with a purpose,
your purpose.

Love, Andrea