Sunday, April 25, 2010

My dearest God,

Yesterday while driving back from Knoxville, Tennessee in the rain for nearly seven hours, I listened to hymns and sang aloud the gospel songs of the 1950's. While the threatening skies and crazy semi drivers steering their rigs down the mountains at 80 miles an hour, I sang with the angels and saints. Ordinarily I would not have driven so far in bad weather especially when leaving Tennessee in the late afternoon but I had a special place to be this morning at 10:00 a.m. I was determined to get back to celebrate your magical, mystical, and mysterious workings in Bethel United Methodist Church!

Pulling up into the driveway I saw on the outside their transformation: new building, new parking lot, new landscaping. On the inside I saw happy, enthusiastic people filled with joy, purpose, hope and faith. It was a glorious day indeed, one we had looked forward to for I suppose a couple of decades. Our dream was fulfilled with the new Family Life Center, kitchen, closets and restrooms.

As we sang and worshipped and prayed and supped on the divine manna from heaven, we knew whose presence we were in. You had guided, cleaned up, challenged, prayed over, helped, ministered to, healed, directed and guided us. At times we felt the sting of pain as we failed to be the full people you asked to be. We were human and acted too human at times. Sometimes we went in circles, not quite sure where the exit was located. At other times we wept, feeling loss, disappointment, confusion and frustration. But always, always you were with us, picking us up, wiping away our tears, encouraging us and leading us to the promised land of faith and love.

I witnessed the fruits of our labor and your work. When persons mumbled kind words to me, I simply shared, "I figure God did it and we all helped out." I know whose project it was, whose power made it happen and whose help made it possible.

Most Gracious God,
by whose hand
all good things happen,
our hearts
are full
of thanksgiving
and praise.
You have
once again
revealed yourself
and we
who have
seen you
are deeply grateful.

Love always, Andrea