Tuesday, July 15, 2008

Dearest God,

Strangers become friends when they are seated together at the table of Christ. We were Roman Catholic, United Church of Christ, Episcopal, African Methodist Episcopal and United Methodist. We had a common purpose, to listen to the voices of pastors and their churches talk about their hopes and dreams for the future. By evening sitting at yet another table (a new Brazilian steakhouse restaurant) with 15 others like us, we laughed and teased, sometimes guffawing. When we gathered the next morning we were still laughing, full of friendship and food from the night before.

Most likely we would not have come across one another. We would not have stopped and asked, "Would you like to be my friend?" We would not have found ourselves at someone's table talking about the future of the people called the church. We would not have prayed or shared slices of our life. Yet, gathering at your table changed everything.

If I really and truly wanted to live a full life of faith, I would awaken in the morning with an expectancy at what you would bring into my day. I would know that you had a destiny for me and part of that destiny would unfold that very day, and then the next day and the next. I would hush my mind, gently kneel by my bed or altar and breathe your life-giving air, awaiting your guidance or direction or even a prayer that would come to my heart or mind. I would smile, anticipating our time together.

Who could guess
that so much wonderfulness
could come
my way?
Who could imagine
the joys
and blessings
that would be mine?
Who could anticipate
heaven parked
at my door?
Who could?

Loving you, Andrea