Friday, April 4, 2008

My dearest God,

I love walking down the steps to my study in the early morning hours. I like writing while it is still dark outside. But I also love walking back upstairs when the day is dawning. It's like a new surprise each day.

I stepped outside onto my front porch to lean against the post. Although gray and rainy, I listened to the birds sing, watched one bird move around just feet away, and I breathed in the heavy moist air. The ground is loving all this rain. Greening up, it is coming to life again. Yet another wondrous surprise.

Every day has so many surprises waiting. At the precipitous moment, a flower will open, a tree will bud, a biker will ride by (like this morning), rain will fall, the sun will shine, a child will laugh, joy will sing, faith will blossom, an insight will come, peace will stir, hope will come to life.

I choose to live my life believing in surprises. Surprises of God to be revealed at just the right time. My life at this moment could be changed in a few seconds with just one surprise. Just like walking up the steps and seeing the dawn unfold brings a smile to my face.

I don't rely on these surprises to make my faith strong. I just revel in them, like a child with a new toy. The fact that they do enrich and strengthen my faith is another act of God in my life. Yesterday's surprises are enough, why would I ask for more? I don't have to have more to have faith. I have faith because I believe in you. I walk with you daily. All the rest is cherries on top of the hot fudge sundae.

Each day that emerges is yet another day soon to be over. I watch with anticipation your surprises, evidence of your loving presence. And even if evil befalls me, I stumble over an obstacle, I don't get what I long for, I still know with great confidence that this day is all I get and I want to live it well. I want to be intentional with you. I want to walk in the same cadence as you. I want to sing the same song as you, dance the same dance.

Glorious God,
all praise
belongs to you.
If it were not so,
I would not draw
yet another breath.
Everything I have
is because
you are God.
And all
that I do not possess
is because
you are God.
The sweetness
of your grace
touches my life,
a new surprise
every day.
Oh how I love you.

Love, Andrea