Thursday, August 21, 2008

Dearest God,

I saw the early morning sun beginning to rise, lending its rays to the branches of my neighbor's tree. Casting shadows across the street, I thought of how I can count on the light to shine, but also the darkness to fall.

I'm learning more and more to trust both the light and the darkness. Your activity goes on during both. The spiritual life is lived in both. It is when the sun has gone down and the darkness has begun to take its rightful place that trust has to kick in for me. It is when the darkness comes that I know I can fall into temptation and fail to see the light that always shines.

Temptation can be in the form of fear. When I allow myself to fall into fear, I know I am not trusting as I need to. When I am afraid, my mind gets jumbled and I think about all the things that can come along. When I'm focusing on fear's power, I'm missing the spirit's power.

Only you, O God, can maneuver me into the darkness' light. Only you can show me the way. Only you can alter my fear and upright me in your spirit. My joy returns when I trust in you.

You are
my light
and my darkness,
dearest God.
In you
I catch
a glimpse
of who
I am,
who I need
to be.
You light up
my goodness
so I can see,
but you also
show me
my stains,
the soiled places
in my life.
By your grace
and power
I know
that the stains
can be washed away,
cleansed and purified.
How many times,
have you changed me,
Lord, and made me
white as snow.
Make me
in your image,
clean and spotless,
a reflection
of your light.
My joy
comes from you.

Love, Andrea