Thursday, March 15, 2012

Dear God,

On my hands and knees, I plucked weeds from my flower garden when a beautiful monarch butterfly landed on the nasturtium right in front of me.  I stopped what I was doing and watched as the flower and butterfly danced in the gentle breeze.  In God's time, I thought, in your time.

Nature just knows when it is time to transform itself.  It knows when to be silent, quiet, feeding itself essential nutrients.  One day it begins to stir and then all of a sudden it moves, pushing upward, not allowing the weight of the soil to crush it. Finally, it breaks through the obstacles, making its way to the light.  Then it stretches and becomes everything beautiful it was intended.

I thought of how it is that way in human life.  There are seasons in human living.  At times we need the quiet feeding, drinking in your living presence.  We need to rest in your care, filling ourselves up with hope, peace, faith, and joy.  When the season of growth comes in whatever form, we too must start moving however reluctantly until we meet the resistance.  We have to allow your light to motivate us, inviting us up and out.  We have to let faith intentionally move us with determination and courage so that we will move beyond the obstacles to your glorious radiance. In those moments our beauty is revealed.

None of this is possible without you, Generous God.  The flower, the butterfly, and we humans cannot budge from our dark places without the promise of your light inspiring us, nudging us, guiding and leading us.  In your time, Lord, in your time.

Forgive us
when we fail
to follow
the cues
of your spirit.
Forgive us
when we stay
in the dark
resisting the light
that will
move us
from where
we are
to where
we need
to be.
Forgive us
when we
give up
or remain
stale, stagnant,
and lifeless.
Forgive us
when we
forget to trust.
Revive us
with faith
to make
the journey
of life
with you,
I pray.

Love, Andrea