Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Dearest God,

Sometimes it seems we just walk into heaven, a sweet scent rising up, filled with grace's extraordinary love. I visited a home today filled with such love. I sensed it as I entered it, somehow knowing something very special resided there.

Our conversation was not one of simple pleasantries but rather about the essence of life. What is the meaning of life? Is it simply being born, doing your own thing, then dying or is there something more?

For me it is all about the call to be born, initiated not just between a man and a woman but a call of God. A call to creation's destiny, not just one person's but a challenge to purpose. What is my purpose if I live to care for myself only? What do I offer to the rest of the world?

One of my favorite images of God is one of holy light with heaven's arms extended outward. I fall backward into these arms, yes backward because I can't see backward. I can't really be sure I line up with those arms. I may fall. But trust allows me to fall backward, not forward, because then I can see, brace myself if there is a problem. Not much trust involved. But falling backward moves me closer to you.

How often have I come to a dead end, a standstill and realized that my only real alternative is to return from whence I came or take a backward move into your arms? So many times. What I have learned is that your arms not only catch and cradle me, they are the steadying force that give me courage to see from a new perspective, to rise to a new level of faith, to move in a new direction. Faith is born anew and I realize that my destiny is tied into creation's destiny because creation's destiny is tied into you. I move confidently forward because I know my steps are part of creation's story.

My visit today was indeed a line and verse from creation's story. I am a part of the story and so are the people I visited. Together we praised the God of love and light. You, O God, were not only the story we shared but the love with which we shared it. Your peace entered our conversation and we breathed in light that sustained us, will sustain us even into eternity.

What joy erupts
inside us
when we meet
the Creator
of all that is.
You, dear God,
are that joy.
Your love
draws us close;
your light illumines
our next steps.
All there is
left to do
is give thanks.

Loving you, Andrea