Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Dearest God,

Words are expressions of the heart. Some words go deeper, stemming from the soul. Sunday evening's retirement party reflections come from the soul.

Participating in the ongoing call of ministry for the glory of God speaks so deeply to my soul. To be called by God in 1972 in a long line of disciples gives me cause to pause, to bow down, to humble myself in the face of God. To do the work of your Son, to hand people the keys to the kingdom, to open doors, to shine the light is pure unadulterated joy.

To see the faces of persons who have been touched by Christ, who gathered to honor ministry as an act of devotion to faith left me without words. I could not look up, my head down in humble adoration to the One I serve. I did not know what to do with myself.

So many hugs and kisses, so many beautiful words, so many smiles and happy faces in one place. So many offerings to you, my Beloved, saying thank you for joy that has come from heaven. Our joy is not just about one human person, encounters in ministry but rather it is about a rootedness in faith that has bound us together into eternity.

I sing
a song
of faith,
to you,
my Beloved.
I offer
to you
my deepest joy,
an act
of my devotion
for all
your many gifts.
Your gift
of faith
is sufficient
to fill
my life forever.

Eternally yours, Andrea