Thursday, October 4, 2007

Dearest God,

I am a carrier, a carrier of heavy hearts. I carry them, one by one, to your feet.

All around me there are people with heavy hearts, worried hearts, broken hearts, frightened hearts, sorrowing hearts. Each one is burdened down, suffering.

A person I know likes to ask me, "Have you saved anyone today?" I always say yes or no with a big qualifier. I don't save anyone. I do take their hand if they wish someone to accompany them on their journey. I do walk beside them. I do help cut down or move obstacles in their lives. I do sing a lullaby or even dance a dance in celebration. I set them 'awanderin' into your mystery. "Have I saved anyone?" Perhaps I have made life a little more bearable. Perhaps I have broken it down into smaller pieces making it more manageable. Perhaps I have sprinkled hope, a little mercy. Sometimes joy. Perhaps I have helped them find some courage tucked way inside themselves.

Sometimes I have to be real careful when carrying heavy hearts, especially when my own family heart is breaking. I can get overwhelmed, saddened, burdened down. I can feel the extra weight tugging at me. I can get tired, really tired to the point of exhaustion. I know then that there is one heart I had failed to carry to you...mine.

Holder of tender hearts,
everything we are
is held
in your hands.
Our sorrow and grief,
our challenges and joys.
Our wanderings astray
and our welcomes home.
Lover of tender hearts,
allow us
to sit
at your feet
while the mending
takes place.

Love, Andrea