Friday, July 8, 2011

Dear God,

Do you notice changes in the human heart? Do you see conversion in the human soul? Do you celebrate transformation?

At the beginning of May, I began to dig and dig and dig an area down the tree row leading to the river. Neglected for decades, it was full of sticker bushes, weeds, invasive plants, rocks, broken glass and more debris. It was very hard work as I pulled, pushed, cut, and stripped the area.

Then a few weeks ago I began working on the soil adding peat moss and top soil. I mixed and mixed it digging deep to enrich it for planting. Then I went to my neighbor's and started digging up black-eyed susans, coreopsis, and day lillies. As I dug I carried scoop fulls to add to my flowerbed (with permission). Then I drove to a local nursery and purchased violas and azalea plants. I placed everything where I wanted them and tomorrow I will begin planting.

The whole work of transformation beginning with clearing the land has been a strenuous process but then why wouldn't it be? As I consider the work you do, I understand better what it takes to become something more, something better. I realize it is a difficult challenge changing human hearts, spirits, and souls. I am positive we have plenty of obstacles and debris that seem overwhelming to us at times. However, you keep on working with us, never giving up, never demeaning or demanding. Perhaps you know what the end product will look like and you gently, firmly urge us to move forward relinquishing the dead places, the weedy and cluttered areas, and the deeply rooted negative attitudes and beliefs that keep us from becoming beautiful images of you.

Over time as we trust, change, and grow, you enable us to catch glimpses of ourselves in flight reaching our potential. It must be moments like those when we are able to see what you saw long before.

There is a part of me who is just content to gaze upon the rich soil and beautiful tall orange day lillies in bloom because I already see the change and I love it. Yet, I am ready to move on, to add to what I have knowing in the end what a lovely place I will have created.

O Lord,
you are
the source
of all transformation.
You give us
power and desire
for change
and then
you walk
alongside us.
As we
work together,
something beautiful happens.
When we
are able
to get
a peek
of ourselves
and see
a partial picture
of you,
what joy
fills our souls.
Thank you,
Ever-Transforming God,
for your
steady work,
your great love,
and trust
in us.

Love, Andrea