Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Dear God,

I'm cleaning out, uncluttering, and surrendering pieces of my life. A recent house renovation changed the way things look in our home. The renovation is so beautiful giving us new views from our writing room window and the basement.

Now I am deciding what I want to keep from my past. I am looking through old pictures, files, papers, boxes, envelopes...years of my life in ministry and all areas of my 64 years on the planet. Perhaps transforming rooms in our home has given me "permission" and a desire to let go of items that clearly identified me as a minister, daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, and friend. I am choosing now what I want to keep, what I want to give away and what I want to throw away.

Really it is a liberating experience. The more secure and confident I feel about myself, the less need I have to hold on to things that give the impression of who I am. Letters from parishoners who say how "wonderful" I am are not necessary anymore. I can let them go.

I realize that I regularly need to do an inventory of who I am and what I am about so I can make the necessary adjustments to your will for me. Outwardly I may look a particular way but inwardly I may need to shift, alter and change my life which can give me a new appearance, one that is more in keeping with your design for this body, mind and soul.

Great God of Challenge and Transformation,
may I
be so
in tune
with your will
that I
automatically follow
your creation plan
for me.
May I
not hide
behind obstacles
of the past
and present
but rather
step out
of my
hidden places
to show myself
to you.
Renovate me,
O Lord,
transform me,
O God,
make me anew,
God So Full of Grace.

Love, Andrea