Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Dear God,

On the face of the earth there are places I call home. The Carmelite Monastery. Christ in the Desert Monastery. Sisters of St. Joseph. And there are people where I find home, Susan, Bill, Jan and Cindy, my covenant group. Put the two together and I am home, a place of trust, safety, security, warmth, and love.

Today we circled round and began to share our journeys, where you have led us these past few months since we were last together. Our hearts opened, our souls poured out. We shared because we believe in one another, trust one another. We have for 21 years.

When I reflected upon your workings in our lives, I realized you are always the one who sits with us, who helps us sing our tune, cry our tears, dance our dance, ask our questions. We trust one another because we trust you in our midst.

As I listened to my colleague friends, my sisters and brother, I thought of the gifts they are. We have traveled to heaven and hell together. We have walked through brokenness and wholeness. We have journeyed through doubt, fear, hopelessness and despair. But we have also spent much time in eternity celebrating hope, joy, faith, love, and peace. We have known sorrow but also praise. We have pilgrimed through life together.

We love
one another
because we
love you,
dearest Friend.
We trust
one another
because we
trust you.
We have
faith in
one another
because we
have faith
in you.
Our lives
have been
wed together
because the
strand that
holds us
is divine,
that cord
from heaven
that binds
kingdom people together.
We know love
because you
have taught
us love.
In this
new year
I celebrate
the gift
of home.

Love, Andrea