Sunday, November 22, 2009

My dearest God,

As I sat in the chapel for worship, I looked up through the huge window panes and saw the impossible. A pine tree growing out of the side of mountain rock. Not just a small, scraggly tree but what appeared to be about a 5 foot pine tree, strong, with its arms reaching out, its top standing straight and tall. I couldn't keep my eyes off it. After our final worship before leaving the desert mountain monastery, I got as close as I could and took a picture.

How could a pine tree begin growing out of rock? There had to be some kind of soil, a seed, water and enough sunshine to make it grow. But how? How was it possible? I kept thinking about it and it came to me. With God all things are possible. The impossible is possible.

How many times have I thought something was impossible only to discover that it was not? How many moments did I believe that you could not make something happen and then it did? How many seemingly miracles have occurred when it seemed nothing more could be done?

Living a life believing only in the possible is a life without faith. Doctors report miracles all the time. Hopeless people in hopeless situations discover hope. Faithless people grab hold of faith. Love erupts in loveless people. You have shown us in so many ways how the impossible is possible.

Every day I am faced with a decision whether to believe in faith, to live it, to share it. Every day I can choose to live in the world of the possible where I have the power to manipulate the elements around me or I can look up into the mountains and believe that a pine tree can come from rock.

There are no hopeless situations no matter how dire. Even martyrs who looked into the face of death held a greater power over their adversaries. Can death ultimately conquer good? Or can good grow even out of death? With God all things are possible.

O Lord,
I want
to live
my life
believing in
the impossible.
I want
to attain
a kind
of trust
that believes
all things
really are possible.
I choose
to believe
in you
who has turned
our world,
my world
upside down
and then
rightside up.
All things change;
this I know
for sure.
I cling
to faith
as a way
to live
a beautiful,
hope-filled
gracious life.
And why?
Because you are
the possibilities God.
May I never
waiver in
my faith
in you,
dearest God.

Love, Andrea