Monday, June 8, 2009

My dearest God,

Your call goes out. We hear and respond. When I learned that I had to open the 18 boxes already prepared to ship to Africa, I sighed. And not only that I had to lift every book, about 750, from its crate. I had to decide what kind of book it was and how many were packed in the container. As I was opening the third box, I thought I couldn't do another one. I had already spent weeks getting them together. So I left the sanctuary and was walking down the hall when I nearly bumped into a friend who asked if there was anything she could do to help me. An angel dropped from heaven.

As Laraine and I opened boxes, lifted out the books, counted them and then filled out each form, we talked, no, we shared. We talked about what is important to us in the worship service, how we want to grow in our faith, and be more of what God wanted us to be. Had I remained in the sanctuary grumbling, working for several more hours preparing for shipment, I would have missed the angel you sent me.

Sometimes I get so focused on my own self that I miss your gentle call. I may be so filled with other voices telling me what I still need to do that I fail to hear the one voice that can calm all the others. Sometimes I am unable to see and hear the divine.

But today, O God, you reminded me of your presence and sent me down the hall where your angel awaited me.

The voice
of heaven
is sweet,
dear God.
No sweeter anywhere.
When I listen
and hear,
I know
you are near.
I know
you desire
to lift
me up,
to teach me,
to challenge me
in all
the areas
of my life.
Tune me in
to your frequency
so I
never fail
to find you,
I pray.

Love, Andrea