Sunday, February 3, 2008

My dearest God,

I remember the season when our greeting time was a brief experience of whispering hello to our neighbor sitting nearby. Now, we nearly need to ring a bell to call a halt after five minutes of handshakes, hugging, sharing, moving from pew to pew, greeting as many people as possible.

A spirit happening occurs as hearts are opened to you. When people allow their souls to crack open after being heavily guarded for so long, it is possible to see evidence of your presence. Our Sunday morning ritual is a generous display of spirit.

I can see the faces of my flock on Sunday morning. Although my own soul is prepared for worship, I am still vitally interested in what is happening to the souls you have given me to tend. I watch their faces, their body language, the ways in which they sing. Oftentimes I am able to discern a movement of your Spirit. It gives me joy.

But these days it isn't just one or two, I see so much spirit in my people (your people really). It is popping up all over the place, in the front rows and the back, in the choir and at the piano. I remember being thrilled if I saw one person moved by a song, a prayer, a fellowship hug, the message. Now it's a true spirit movement. Your spirit has moved through my congregation, embracing oh so many. It gives them joy. They like it, no they love it. And they know it is not a manufactured false expression of your spirit. It is a real, authentic experience of your love, a love that first entered hearts on a superficial level, then deeper at soul level. My hours in worship are now spent in gratitude for what I witness, observe and experience. And that gives you joy.

Most Holy Powerful God,
only you
can soften
a human heart.
Only you
can break down
the barriers
of mistrust, apathy,
disinterest.
Only you
can create
a crack
in the human soul.
Only you
can put
a spirit smile
of human faces.
Only you
can make music
in a spirit
where there
has been none.
Only you
can bring
holy laughter
where bitterness
once lived.
Only you
can break open
sealed tears
held back so long.
Only you
can move
a human being
toward God.
Only you,
Great God,
only you.

Loving you always, Andrea