Friday, April 27, 2012

Dear God,

You want us to know you, don't you, Living God?  Every day you reveal yourself to us, sometimes in great and marvelous ways.  But sometimes the discovery comes in small, ordinary ways in the stuff of daily living.  I think you gave me a contemplative garden where you and I could meet face to face.

For weeks I have been hard at work in my garden.  I've gotten on my knees between plants coming up. While pulling weeds I have suddenly become aware of those noxious somethings that need extricated from my own life like stubbornness and resistance.  While digging up intrusive plants, I found a woody one with deep roots that I will really have to spend some time digging out, funny that I am waiting until everything else is done before I pull it out.  How many deep-seeded thoughts or attitudes or beliefs are deep within me that need to find their way to the surface so they can be surrendered?  And pruning, oh the pruning.  I have cut and chopped away at trees, plants and bushes that have been neglected.  To be honest at times I want to flee from your pruning in my own life.

As I work away in my garden, I find myself praying for the great and small changes I need to make as well.  It is during such moments that I realize just how real you are, how loving and caring, and even how obvious it is that you are with me.

O God,
you are visible
when our eyes
are open
to seeing you.
You speak,
connect, and
guide us
when we
say yes
to you.
In the
daily events
of human living
you make
yourself known
again and again.
Thank you
for my garden
that leads me
directly to you.

Love, Andrea