Thursday, December 31, 2009

My dearest God,

I sat alone in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel this morning. In the darkened room lighted only by tiny white lights on the Christmas tree, I pondered the passing year. Although the hurts of the year had already found their way into your hands, I remembered countless blessings, moments of your presence invading my heart, mind and soul and I breathed prayers of appreciation.

Sometimes I forget to pause and give thanks. My soul fails to assess the many wonders of your grace each day. I go about my business as if the world revolves around me. I forfeit opportunity after opportunity to stand in the middle of your divine mystery and recount the ways your loving compassion has touched, restored, and renewed my life.

What a beautiful thing it is to step inside your grace, to wander its halls discovering the infinite number of people whose lives have been mended and remade by you. Such a walk helps me recover my own sense of awe and my need to live in the constant state of gratitude.

Thank you
for the light
that points me
back to you.
My blindness
gives way
to visions
of loveliness
when your love
entered my life
again and again.
You confound me
with your
many gifts
to me.
On this
last day
of the
old year,
I pause,
Gracious God,
to honor you,
to give thanks,
to offer
my praise.

Love, Andrea