Monday, November 24, 2008

Dear God,

I am feeling the pangs of change. As we spoke about Christmas, someone said it would be my last. As long as I was the one saying it in my own mind, it didn't seem as gut-wrenching but when someone else said it, it seemed much closer.

It will be my last Christmas as a parish pastor. I remember several of my Christmas Eve experiences, each one lending itself to a deeper experience with Christ. Mystical experiences of the Divine, reminding me again why I am a pastor, why I have dedicated my life to serve as a shepherd of the flock. The birth of a Savior changed my life 2,000 years later.

We are planning, creating a setting, preparing for the celebration. We are determining the liturgy, the music, the candle lighters. We are checking on candles, a Christmas tree and communion supplies. But the real work of changing hearts, inspiring both the non-believers and believers and touching the spirit is your work. We can't manipulate that. Without your spirit, we would would have a one-act play without a real message.

Yes, it is my last. But for my spirit it is one more, another beautiful encounter with the Holy.

I sing for you.
I pray for you.
I prepare for you.
I dance for you.
I offer myself to you,
willingly, joyfully.

Love, Andrea