Monday, October 6, 2008

Dear God,

I am more convinced, more convicted of faith in ministry and the church. I believe that faith must be at the heart of everything I do. At the same time I believe I must be attuned to ways of practicing faith that takes into account reason and context.

I have witnessed faith used as a weapon to damage and destroy. I have seen faith used to damage the soul, breaking down the mind's resources. I have seen faith used to manipulate. I have witnessed faith used to rob the soul of its purity and innocence. But I have also known the wonders faith has brought to the whole person. I have seen faith touch people in the most vulnerable places, giving hope, peace and joy. I have seen faith bubble up, bringing life to a nearly dead body, mind and soul. I have witnessed faith's ability to restore and renew.

I wonder sometimes how faith operates in the worship service. I wonder what happens inside the souls sitting in the congregation. I wonder how faith is speaking to the human condition. I wonder how open people really are to you, Lord. I wonder.

As we are experiencing hard times in our world right now, I believe faith has answers, ways of leading people. keeping people afloat in proper and helpful ways. I believe faith can hold us while the world rocks, reacting to one another's losses and sorrows. I believe faith can sing a cradle song to each one of us, giving us the ability to live, sacrifice, compromise and wait until crises pass, however long they may be.

I believe faith, my faith in you, my faith in hope and trust in you, will motivate and inspire others as I remain truly connected to you, like the branches with the vine story in the Bible. I'm surely not the vine, you are, but I have been working a long time to listen, to follow, to be obedient, to walk with you. I have felt the corrections you have made in my own soul, painful cuttings teaching me my need for you and your need for me to follow willingly, obediently, bringing hope, peace, help to your people. Such a call reminds me of the cost of discipleship.

Perhaps this is
the time
when we,
your people,
will return
to you.
Perhaps some
of us
will go further,
leading your people
from anguish and sorrow
to hope and peace.
Perhaps faith
will be restored
or even come
to life
if never before tapped.
Perhaps this is
the time
for a renewal,
a revival
of faith.
Perhaps
this is
the time
to drop
to our knees
to cherish
your relationship
to us.
Perhaps
this is truly
the time
for faith.

Love, Andrea