Monday, March 24, 2008

Dear God,

The day after Easter. What do I do the day after Easter? I hold on to hope.

How easy it is to forget the dramatic rising of your son, to reduce the resurrection event to a small hometown parade, to let go of the eternal hope that rose from the grave with you.

The day after, I go back to living a life of my own, living off my own resources, talents, and skills. I clean up the leavings of Easter flowers, then go back to living the same old way as if Easter had not come. It was just another holiday I might say to myself.

The test of faith is not just to live it on Easter Sunday. It is growing that faith on Easter Monday, working it on Easter Tuesday and celebrating it on Easter Wednesday. And when Easter Thursday comes along I start all over. Easter is either Easter with its resurrection power for every day or it's just another bunny with candy day.

When I operate as if Easter had not occurred, I stand shamed before you. I realize I just wanted to be part of the parade. I just wanted to wear my pretty new dress and shoes.

It was Easter Monday when the disciples made a decision to give their lives in faith. And the same exercise is mine. As your disciple I have to decide too. Am I going to give my life to faith and resurrection and Holy Spirit power today or am I not?

Source of resurrection power,
I stand
in your light,
remembering
this day is yours,
not mine.
I did not call forth
the day
nor call the night
to retreat.
And the light
of that truth
is enough
for me
to follow you
on Monday.
Sometimes
faith waivers,
not my belief
but acting upon
my belief.
That's what faith is,
the action
of my belief.
Oh, Lord,
I want
to be found faithful
on Monday
and Tuesday
and Wednesday.
It's your plan
for my life
I seek,
not my own picture
of who I am
and what I am about.
Forgive me
again
for failing to follow.
I always know when
I am doing it
because suddenly
the cross you took
from me
becomes heavy again.

At your feet, Andrea