Sunday, August 2, 2009

Dear God,

We stood to sing in the small, makeshift sanctuary, to sing out our faith. Michael W Smith was already singing on a CD..."Healing rain is falling down, healing rain is falling down. I'm not afraid, I'm not afraid." I began to sing along..."Healing rain is falling down..."

Healing rain, I've prayed for a lot of things in my life. I've asked you for courage, for strength, and for hope. I've asked for help and guidance. I've rarely asked for healing.

Healing is not a mystery to me. I've scratched myself before and watched the process of healing. At first there is bleeding. The area swells and turns red, then it goes down, turning pink. A scab forms; it gets hard. One day it falls off. The site is tender. And then it's no longer noticeable.

Healing is something I pray for often for others. I ask for your healing touch. But not for myself.
Healing is a sacred gift. I figure it goes beyond the standard hope, peace, help. Healing is more special than all the rest. They all, however, come from you.

The fact that I have enough air to breathe each day is a wondrous gift. I am conscious of the air I breathe, knowing at any second, it could end. I often give thanks for the air I breathe. That's why it was meaningful for me to join in singing the second song on the tape..."This is the air I breathe, this is the air I breathe and I, I'm desperate for you..."

I'm mindful of the many gifts placed at my feet each day...air, a home, children and grandchildren, faith, blue, gray or black skies, hope, food on the table, laughter, joy, love. I know where these come from. They are gifts that simply present themselves on a daily basis. I don't even have to ask; they are leftovers from the day before, gifts that keep giving themselves to me.

But healing, healing is a unique, special gift. Not everyone gets healing. Some die with their malady or broken heart. And so I rarely ask for it. I never asked to be healed of breast cancer. I asked for strength and the ability to endure. I wanted your visible presence more than healing and I got it. Healing came after.

I sang it..."Healing rain is falling down, healing rain..." An image formed in my mind. Glistening, shiny healing falling like raindrops drops. I looked up as they came down, allowing the dew-like drops to fall on me. Completely surrounded by healing drops from heaven, I knew the message. Healing was falling down...on me.

Healing God,
your many gifts
to me
go beyond
my imagination.
I'm blessed.
I'm blessed
when I'm full.
I'm blessed
when I'm empty.
Your healing rain
fell upon me today.
I looked
into the heavens
and the
drops fell
upon my face.

You are my greatest gift, Andrea