Friday, December 30, 2011

Dear God,

"Give us this day our daily bread," we pray every Sunday in church.  Yesterday as I stood out in the cold in the Kohl's parking lot with just a thin sweatshirt to warm me, I realized that the bread you mention in your prayer is not just for physical food.  You also invite us to pray for spiritual nourishment, food to feed the soul.  I ate a full meal yesterday morning.

I ran in to Bob and Thelma whom I have not seen in probably 15 or 20 years.  Although we live in the same community, I have never come across them.  Today was different.  I was at Kohl's for a single minute to give something back to the lady at the check out and then I turned around and was walking out when Thelma was rushing in to check on her receipt.  There between the doors Thelma pointed me to Bob who was waiting in the car.  I knocked on the front of the car and a big smile spread across his face.  When he rolled down the window, I leaned all the way in and gave him a really big hug.  That's when it began.

Over the next several minutes Bob shared with me about his heart surgery some time back.  All went well with the surgery, he told me, and then suddenly all his organs began shutting down.  He was in a coma for a month.  But it was during that time when Bob saw a light and heard voices praying for him.  It was touch and go for a long time; yet, while he waited for physical healing, you were feeding him spiritual food.  After Bob shared, I told him about my own miracle and how you had been so merciful to Harold and to me. "Prayer is powerful," Bob told me.  "Every prayer is an act of love," I responded.  When I was too cold to stay outside any longer, I bid them goodbye and told them I figured you had provided us all a serendipitous moment.

Every morning when I awaken I begin the day by praying.  I realize now that by acknowledging your "knock" on the door of my heart by praying in the early hours of the day, I am asking for spiritual food.  As I feed on you first, I am enabled to sense mystical moments all day long.  I am enabled to see and hear you and my writing becomes a journal of heavenly sightings.  How glorious is that?

Most Holy God,
full of wonder
and grace,
thank you
for Bob
and Thelma
and others
like them
who simply share
your glorious work.
Thank you
for that moment
when Thelma
and I
recognized one another.
Thank you
for our sharing
and for
your loving grace
that we offered
one another.
I am
so grateful.

Love, Andrea