Monday, December 17, 2012

Dearest God,

Only you can lift a truly heavy heart.  Only you can help us from falling deeper into pits of despair.  Only you can bring peace like a river.  I have seen it.

Our nation is hurting, feeling the pain of the senseless death of school children and their educators.  We are all mourning.  Yet I am very aware of countries where the death of children from starvation, war, and unclean water occur daily.  Every day there is pain and suffering in our world.

In such times I go hunting for sights and sounds of your living presence.  "Where are you, Lord," I ask.  Today as I went about my daily chores, I heard you in the lyrics and melodies of Christmas carols, hymns that speak words of peace, hope, and faith.  I saw it in the faces of children singing Silent Night, Holy Night.  Interesting how children can lead us to the light.  I saw it in gestures of people who were more generous than usual toward one another in the grocery store and the mall.  I heard about it in the stories of love coming out of Newtown.  I saw it in a young mother smiling, kissing, and hugging her toddler.  I saw it in the face of a loving mother whose troubled preteen daughter is acting out, yet the mother shows constant love.  I saw it in the call to change from professionals who have the ability to start the conversation about the ways we behave as a people in conflict and their commitment to action.  I saw it in a dying man at the hospital, who initially couldn't stand me as his pastor because I was a woman, hold and squeeze my hand because we became friends by your spirit and power.  I saw it in my own daughter who shared insights from her own life, hurts, mistakes, and disappointments as a way to help an eleven year old find her way.  And just minutes before falling into bed exhausted from concerns about so many I heard the lyrics sung by Andrea Borcelli, Our father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.  Thy kingdom come..." and I realized  today your kingdom came on earth as it is in heaven.

Help us see
what is always
around us,
O God;
reveal your
living presence.
Let your
light glow
in our
many darknesses.
Give us hope
to keep on
so we
may see
the miracle
of your love
unfold before us.
Thank you
for all
the gifts
you gave today.
Gratitude fills
my heart.

Love, Andrea