Sunday, September 11, 2011

Dearest God,

How resilient is the human spirit? How much can it take before it collapses? How far can it travel, soaring above life's tragedies?

As I listened to 9/11 stories, I couldn't help but weep at times. What many people endured is beyond my ability to comprehend. Yet, they took in their experiences, shifted their thinking, explored and accepted fresh perspectives and values, and moved forward as enriched human beings. I wondered what essentials were needed in order to move through life experiences to reach greater heights of human living.

It seems so many times we get stuck on particular circumstances. For various reasons we are immobilized by what happens to us. In order to cope we grab hold of anything we believe will pull us out of our dark abysses. It makes no difference that they provide us no permanent answers, leaving us blind and deaf to the future.

However, those who use every resource within them to make the steady climb out of deep despair give us cause, reason, motivation, and inspiration to follow their example. I witnessed many of them today as they remembered but live fruitful, contributing lives.

Fashion us
with a will
to not
only endure
but rise above
the difficulties
that suck life
out of us.
Teach us
to consider
the gems,
treasures you
have placed
within us.
Let courage swell,
faith grow,
determination and strength
be apparent,
and mercy
take root
deep inside.
Set within us
a navigational system
that will
help us move
at your call.
Bless us
with ways
to give thanks.

Love, Andrea