Thursday, June 4, 2009

Dear God,

I taped up my theological books bound for Africa. I used the dolly to carry them to the sanctuary. I placed them in front on both sides of the altar. I looked at them.

Twenty five years of ministry is contained in those boxes. I used the books to teach me, to lead and guide me, to help me see life from a particular perspective. I turned to those books when I wanted to understand, when I needed to understand what the scriptures meant. I opened the books to find an idea, a lead, a story. My theology was borne from seminary books, lectures, questions, challenge and doubt. I let them open me up, change my mind, renovate my faith. I trusted the authors but gave myself permission to question further.

Recently someone said I was generous for giving my books to a village in Africa. It sounded strange to me. I simply stated that my books were simply on loan. I cared for them temporarily. It is time for them to move on to others. Coming to acknowledge that everything is from God in some way or another keeps me from being too attached to things around me.

Gifts from you,
my books
were gifts
from you.
Who is generous?
You are generous,
my God.
What I have
has come
from you.
Seven hundred books,
gifts of faith,
gifts of love.
How grateful
I am
for your generosity.

Love, Andrea