Friday, April 24, 2009

Dear God,

Courage. Throughout my life I have had to summon courage. I could not have gone to first grade without courage. I could not have moved from one town to another in the fifth grade without courage. Neither could I when I left Indiana between my junior and senior years for California in 1963. I could not have been a divorced mom with three young daughters and followed the call to ministry without courage. I could not have…without courage.

Courage is that thing that strengthens the spine. It is a ration of "I can do this…" and then doing it. It is trusting in you, taking your outstretched hand and then stepping forward across an imaginary line. It is drawing in a deep breath of faith, feeling the fullness of grace and leaning toward the future. It is saying to fear: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

Life is about courage, listening to the spirit heart and being unafraid. It is trying a new life adventure because you feel that deep calling to widen your vision. Courage is the enabling power that gives birth to newness of life. Courage is a raw gift of your spirit.

Courage
breathes new life
into me.
When I
draw in
the power
of your spirit,
I know
I am
breathing in
You.
Suddenly
my life
looks different.
The air
around me
fills me
with the magic
of your love.
With such love
I smile;
for I am enabled
to do
what I
could not
do before.
Breathe courage
into me,
Lord,
and I
will sing
your praise.

Lovingly, Andrea