Thursday, October 22, 2009

Dearest God,

After writing my 1500th letter to you, I drove to the monastery for my covenant group gathering. On the way I lived in gratitude by giving thanks for what I saw and heard. When I saw a trash truck, I thanked you for those who clean up our homes and schools, churches, hospitals, businesses and industry. I uttered a prayer of thanksgiving for those who clean our air and water. What a vital role they play.

As I whispered my prayers, I suddenly realized that there is so much more to life than what we experience through the five senses. I can give thanks for what I see, but what is beneath what I see? When I saw the truck, I saw people working hard to serve the community. What I did not see before was their service to humankind.

During that 40 minute drive I began to look at the underworld, those invisible things rarely seen with the naked eye. What an eye-opening experience! I commenced in seeing things like generosity and hospitality. When a driver remained in his car while another car passed, he was practicing hospitality. He honored the other driver by yielding. When I came to a stop sign, I saw a desire for safety for all drivers, bikers and runners.

My all-day experience lurking in the underworld lead me to grace, hope, love, faith and trust. These God-given gifts, I came to understand, live in the invisible underworld and await being discovered. Moving from the visible to the invisible gave me a fresh, new perspective, a deeper appreciation for what lay under the surface, a new way to look at the world and a profound respect for your sacred creation.

Living in gratitude made the shift from the visible to the invisible a possibility. Wow!

God beyond creation,
how incredible
to meet you
in the underworld!
I know
so little
about you
and your
sacred design.
So often
I run
to the edge
of the visible
and there
I stop;
I react.
I complain.
I rail.
I cry out.
I fail
to take
the steps
leading to more.
I confess
my shallowness,
my narrowness,
my shortsightedness.
Please forgive me.
Teach me,
dear God;
teach me
your way
so I
will live
your will.

Love, Andrea