Friday, January 4, 2008

Dearest God,

You open the door to change. You shift perspectives. You tell the mind this is good. You train the soul to rest in a new land, made new by the work you have done inside us. You say this is transformation. Home where God dwells.

In this changed land you bring new freedoms, strength and courage. You whisper new ways of doing things. You give us opportunities to try new things. You show us the way. It is You.

Today this was all true. The mountain was for me a place where God dwells. I was drawn to the mountain because I knew I would dwell with you. I wanted to reside with you in a new land. I whispered my secrets asking for help to guide me to make new decisions, to adopt new ideas, to live new ways. I was not disappointed.

I'm still carrying the mountain learnings in my heart. In a brief millisecond I see it all again, the road, the river, the chapel and monastery, the guesthouse, the Christ in the Desert. I feel the mountain air sweeping through the canyon biting at my nose and face. I hear the sounds of men's voices singing the psalms. I can taste the soup and bread. I can smell the air of faith.

I held all that today as I conducted a conversation with someone. In this new land I shared in a new way. I proposed an idea. I used my voice to help someone, to encourage another to test out a new land, create a new one in which to dwell, to thrive, to be wild in the spirit finding greater meaning and value.

I like this new land. I'm certainly freer, happier, more content. I'm more peaceful. I shall dwell here with you until a new time when the winds of the spirit blow calling me again.

The wonder of change
is that all things
appear different.
A wide berth
is made
for trying new things.
A new hope arises
giving birth to life.

Always yours, Andrea