Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Dear God,

My friend is really, really sick. A bout with pancreatitis months ago still plagues her. The last surgery was 12 hours. Yesterday's was 10. She's in critical condition. The doctor says she is very, very sick.

It was her illness and surgery that brought us together. Her husband, her step son, her friend and me, her pastor and friend. From 6:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. we sat together talking about everything under the sun. Politics, the economy, buying a small town to renovate, making a bed and breakfast with accompanying activities around town, jobs, environmental testing, and more. I was very tired when I got home after 9:00 p.m.

When I saw her after surgery, she was heavily sedated and did not respond but each of us whispered in her ear, telling her the surgery was complete, we loved her and that we were praying for her. I then kissed her on the forehead and prayed in a circle.

Lord, I realize that our own small circle of family and friends was a holy made circle. Not because of what we talked about but rather because we were together. We loved Susan. We were concerned for her. We were present with each other and with her. We had all kissed and hugged her before she went into surgery. We all entrusted her into the doctor's care and yours.
We were a circle of love.

Today there were several circles of love at the hospital, each one waiting to hear news of their loved one. Each one had the same concerns and hopes. I have the feeling that you sat in each circle, whispering hope to those who waited.

Whisper to me,
to us,
Lord,
the messages
of hope and faith.
Whisper love
to me,
to us
so that
our souls
will fill up
with that
life-giving agape.
Whisper to me,
to us,
the message
of trust
so that
our trust
in you
will grow.

Love, Andrea