Sunday, March 28, 2010

Dear God,

Today I want to thank you for all persons of faith who have lead me to the doors of eternity! As I think of Palm Sunday I wonder if I would have been one of those to join the party, the entrance into Jerusalem. Would I have thrown down my only coat so the savior-bearing animal could walk across it. Would I have waved palm branches hailing your ministry even if I did not fully understand what lay ahead? Would I?

It seems to me the walk of faith begins on the road where someone else is continuing. Somehow those whose faith is won share it and others are drawn to it. Perhaps it is the joy a pilgrim carries although he or she is in a time of darkness. Maybe it is their grasp of greater spiritual freedom rather than worldly possessions. Per chance it is the calm one wears upon their face during storms. Maybe it is the way they love, forgive, give mercy, act out of compassion or give to others. Maybe it is their trust in you and the courage they exhibit in very difficult times or the way they choose to live their life morally, ethically, spiritually. I don't really know; possibly, it's all these things.

Throughout my nearly 64 years people of faith have invited me to join your party. I've never been wrestled to the ground to participate or forced to accept your friendship or to believe a set of rigid beliefs. Rather it has been through the gentle breeze of your spirit revealed in the lives of your followers that I am mesmerized, pulled toward you. Walking in the light of your son is like a butterfly being drawn to nectar and drinking. So beautiful is the act of faith.

I want to join the celebration but more than that I want to go the distance, all the way. I want to free myself up from all encumbrances that potentially rob me of greater loyalty. When tempted to follow lesser gods, I let go of the more beautiful gifts in life. I grab hold of shiny tinsel that will lose its glitter in no time at all. In a very short period of time I will suddenly wonder where my joy went, when and where it left me. I want to follow you to every rise, hill and valley wherever faith will take me. And why? Because I believe you came to transform the world and one person at a time.

Today
I sing out
my own hosannas
to you,
king of kings
and lord of lords
for all
the spirit travelers
who have
taken me in,
shown me
the way,
offering me
a portion
of their
hope, peace,
mercy, grace
and love.
Praise to you,
Holy God;
thank you
for every transformation
in my life.
May I
always be pliable,
flexible, willing
to bend
to your will.
May I
remain on
the spirit path
befriending others
to join us.
May I
always show gratitude
for those
hearty journeyors
whose hunger
and thirst
for you
never ceases.
Bless them,
dear Lord,
I pray.

Love, Andrea