Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Dearest God,

"Remember," the scripture said, "remember".  I sat listening in the Benedictine Monastery as the liturgy was being read.  Remember.

Once when the Hebrews were in exile they remembered your kindness to them.  Those memories held them for a long, long time until change came and they found their way home to you.

The idea of remembrance as a means of faith resonates with me.  Especially when I experience a low time, I remember what you have done in the past.  I remember hope emerging out of hopelessness because you came to me.  I remember a moment when I was so afraid and suddenly a gentle breeze of your spirit blew in my direction taking my fear with it.  I remember my sorrow finding peace and even joy as I realized you were the author of my tranquility.  I remember love sweeping me up into its arms when I felt unloved and unlovable.

Such remembrances keep me hopeful, grateful, and strong.  They remind me that you are always with me, not off in some far country out of my reach.  When I think of those moments of holy visitation, I acknowledge that in the future when I am hit with an unexpected difficulty and pain, I will not face it alone because you will be with me.  You have promised to be with all your children.

Help me be a carrier of wondrous memories, O God, so that I will conduct myself in faith-filled ways.  Let me be a witness to your living presence in the world.  Teach me every day to live a life of faith and a devoted love for you.  Help me serve others by living in faith that counts and blesses.  Let me live my every day praising you and giving thanks.

Gracious Loving God,
thank you
for the ability
to remember.
Remind me
that I decide
what to remember.
If I choose
to be cynical
and negative,
I can remember
all those things
that hurt
and disappointed me,
all of
life's injustices.
Or I
can focus
on all
the ways
you came
to turn
my cynicism
into faith
and my negativity
into positive blessing.
Open me
to your power
that enables me
to grow in hope,
increase in faith,
and initiate joy.
Let me
do so
in gratitude,
I pray.

Love, Andrea