Thursday, June 26, 2008

Dear God,

I sit here nestled in the Red Rocks. Sprawling grounds leading right up to the mountains, red, cream, pink, and reddish brown, an exquisite display of nature, always leads me to you. Who can deny the creative act?

Just moments ago I was headed toward the chapel when I was stopped by an older, white-headed woman wearing a Ghost Ranch T-shirt. "Hey, Cowgirl, where you headed?" She called me a cowgirl, I thought to myself. I was, of course, wearing my black felt hat with a silver and turquoise band with suede tassels hanging from the back. Out here I am a cowgirl, feel like a cowgirl, even though I don't have boots, a horse, or a silver belt buckle. I feel like I blend in to the environment. I am becoming one with it.

Am I a chameleon, one who can change to become something else? Yes, I think so. I am learning to adapt to your ways wherever it is I find myself. And the changing itself brings me to my knees reminding me that I can change when you lead me to change. I know I don't need a cowgirl hat in New Mexico to be one with you and I don't need a white flowing dancing gown in Maine but the different settings lead me to unique adventures with you. I learn that you are to be found at the ocean, in the mountains and on the mesas, at the rodeo, in town, among children and alone. You are everywhere and a heart that is open, eyes that are willing to see beyond the usual and a soul hungry for the livingness of God will find you, will suddenly become aware of the spiritual treasure chest this cosmos is.

These red rocks have probably been here nearly since the beginning of time. Oh, that they would speak. But then they do. They tell me, "Let us tell you of the Creator. " And then the stories of "beautiful" are told. I sigh with great joy and then I tell their story to others and more faith is borne.

I am destined to live your story and to allow my story to merge with yours. What better story is there to tell?

Let me
sing along
with you,
Creator of the Cosmos;
let me dance
the dance
of creation.
Let me be
a sign
of wonderment
to those
around me.
Make my story
your story
that all
your creatures
will be confounded
by the wonder
of it all.
To you,
Lord,
to you,
I open
my soul,
wide.

Love, Andrea