Thursday, January 28, 2010

My dear God,

As I consider the ways of life, I want to live in the light, not hide from it. I want to love the way you love, not love conditionally. I want to live in your hope, not be hopeless. I want to see the way you see, not be blind. I want to live in truth, not in falsehood.

Today in covenant group I shared my reflections on Exodus 3:1-6 from The Message. Eugene Peterson entitled the reading "Learning to Pay Attention". It was the story of the burning bush, remember? What if Moses failed to notice the bush? How might history have been changed if he had not encountered it? How many had he already passed by?

Such stories motivate me to wonder about myself. How many bushes have I missed or for that matter deliberately walked past? How might my life or the lives around me have been changed if I had slowly moved to the bush inquiring?

I want to intentionally pay attention to all that is around me. If a bush begins to burn, I want to move quickly, to listen for your voice. If nature calls out to me, I want to wait for its unfolding. If a cloud descends, I want to remain still and watchful. I want to witness the things of heaven, hear your voice divine.

O Most Loving God,
reconstruct me,
making me open
to your presence.
Lead me
to burning bushes
and descending clouds.
Guide me
to you,
I pray.

Love, Andrea