Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Dearest God,

The mystery of love. I hold in my hand the picture of Sister Kateri. Wearing the Native American clothing I bought her in New Mexico, she is lifting a basket of bread as part of her Indian Dance she did in Rome to commemorate the 25th anniversary of religious life of two Sisters.

How well I remember her. Our "chance" meeting. Our love for Kateri Tekiwitha, the first Native American woman to hold onto her Native American love of creation theology and her conversion to Christianity. Our love for dance. Our love for you. Rome, Italy.

She wrote me telling me about teaching Native American dance in Rome, how she wore the clothing and later gave the skirt to an African woman who wears it while doing celebrative dance in memory of women who have died in Africa. My love for Africa.

Love's golden thread is woven through the story. New Mexico. The mountain. Kateri. St. Francis. Italy. Africa. The connections are startling.

I observe with great joy the links of faith. Strangers becoming friends in minutes, now writing one another. Who could bring us together? You only.

You link me
with eternity.
The past
connects with the present
setting the stage
for the future.
Peoples together,
the start
of friendship.
Faith speaking out,
crying out
to be heard.
I hear it.
I see it.
I revel
in it.

Yours to praise you, Andrea