Saturday, August 9, 2008

Dearest God,

"One world. One dream." The picture of a world in total harmony was made flesh in Beijing last night. I could not believe what I was watching. What lived in one person's imagination is now a real picture for the 4 billion people purported to be watching the opening of the Olympics.

I was stunned to see the pictures of the world's children, so beautiful, so colorful, so diverse, so naturally wonderful. Smiling, each one smiling, in harmony with one another. Oh, that the world could stop on its axis, making us one true community living in love and harmony.

Some days, O God, it is hard to imagine that even one family can live in harmony with one another or a street, or a business, or one community of people. So to image a whole world living in harmony is inconceivable. But last night when I viewed the picture of what harmony looked like, my tears flowed. One moment I could not stop crying; I was so in awe.

Such pictures and images keep in the forefront of my mind the opportunity for people to come together, to live in peace and hope together. I know this is your desire. I know you have made us for each other. You have shown us that we cannot exist without one another's gifts and talents. One person's skills keep another person alive. We exist for one another. We are meant for human and spiritual community.

I couldn't help praying for such a vision. For doesn't community begin with a vision of what we can become? And aren't we one step closer when we accept the vision?

Steps,
one, two, three.
Steps
to make us
one.
You,
O God,
the Great Communicator,
paint the picture
of hope.
With artistic persuasion
you make
our hearts tremble
with faith.
You stir
our spirits,
causing us
to lean
your way.
Create
in us
the great desire
and the determination
to reach,
reach far
to our neighbor.
Make us one,
step by step.

Love, Andrea