Sunday, February 28, 2010

My dearest God,

Sunday, such a glorious day! I learned today that it is possible to sing and smile at the same time. I am singing in the choir of your church.

It is possible to smile in Sunday School, in the fellowship hour, and while listening to the organ play. I love the church because I always experience something more of you as I participate in the Sunday morning gathering. But not only that, I love the church because you loved it enough to create the church. I love bringing you joy from your beloved.

The church is not perfect. It is flawed because the people inside it are human. Sometimes the church lets out its worst when it hurts others. But more times than not I have seen the church rise to the occasion of providing care for others. I have watched the church be the light in the darkness. People turned to your church on 9/11. They wanted to hear a word of hope from you. Our word to one another was not enough. People wanted more.

I walk among your church on Sunday morning and find myself being hugged from the side, the back and the front. Such hugs, I know, come directly from you. I recognize the smile on their faces, the gleam in their eyes. I know that love for it has been the one constant in my life since I was a young child looking up into the twinkling starry night from my grandmother's front room where I was on a sleepover with my cousin. You are the church, the reason I am drawn to it.

Loving God,
thank you
for making me
part of
your life.
I drink in
your living water
on Sunday mornings.
I walk
through green pastures
and find rest
for my
weary soul.
I sing
your praise,
dance the dance
of compassionate mercy.
You are
not only
the God
of the Cosmos,
you are
my hero,
my mentor
and guide.
I love you.

Always, Andrea