Thursday, April 21, 2011

Dear God,

Throughout my lifetime you have provided lessons that have changed my life. I know I have not always been an easy recipient of your grace and transformation. I'm sorry. However, today during a sudden, unexpected spike in my blood pressure, I followed your leading and what a vision was waiting for me.

As I lay on the floor listening to Spirit Dreams, you came to me. "Breathe in puffy white clouds, breathe out stormy clouds. Breathe in fresh air, breathe out heavy, muggy air. Breathe in God, breathe out everything else."

During the next hour I found myself in the colorful mountains of New Mexico. The air was cool and crisp. I was alone but not alone. I saw myself on top of the red mountain close to the monastery. I listened to the Native American flute playing. I recognized it. It was your song. The song was you.

I began to dance with your song. Breathing in the sounds of peace, hope and love, I felt myself at one with you, with nature, with joy. As I slowly moved to the music, I saw Sister Kateri, a Benedictine nun whom I had met a few years before, joining the dance of faith.

What happened next brought tears. About three years ago I had bought Native American dance clothing for Sister Kateri who took it to Rome to teach women the Indian dance. At the end of the conference she gave the clothing to an African woman who returned to her homeland to dance for women suffering with Aids. In my vision I saw the African woman dancing with Sister Kateri and me. I heard in the music the call to rise in faith and the women with Aids rose from their beds and joined in the dance. They were dancing for the sick as we all were, for ourselves and others around the globe.

As we danced, one woman leaned down by the stream, cupped her hand, and drew out a cup of living water. We fed one another the life-giving water as we continued the dance, the music causing us all to be in one rhythm together, your rhythm, O God. I could still hear the call to rise up in faith. All at once I noticed more and more people joining in the dance with one spirit. So many were dancing the dance of faith, listening to the music of heaven, drinking the sacred waters. Tears pooled in my eyes and slid down the sides of my face.

As we continued the exquisite beautiful dance of your spirit, a light began to shine even more than before. From the center outward the light fell upon us all as more and more joined in the dance from seemingly all over the planet. I could hear the words again, "Rise up in faith, rise up in faith." I was breathing in the light, the music, the dance, the healing, and the love when I heard my husband whisper my name.

Nearly an hour had passed since my blood pressure had spiked. In my distress I had turned to you like you have taught me to do. Giving myself over to your spirit, I had not only decreased my blood pressure and painful headache but I had met you and all others who were open to your leading. What do I say to you?

Holy God,
your grace
is wondrous,
glorious and beautiful.
You come
to us
when we
need you,
bringing gifts
of beauty,
goodness, mercy,
and awe.
How do
we respond
to such
lavish gifts
of your spirit?
How do
we convey
our thanksgiving,
our gratitude?
How do
we show you
our love
and devotion?
How?

Love always, Andrea