Monday, March 11, 2013

Dear God,

How wonderful you are!  How merciful and kind!

I confess I was crabby this morning as I drove to church.  I was tired from a very hectic week.  I still had a gourmet meal to make and music to sing.  I was not looking forward to being with your family at church.  I am sorry.

Yet, you did not let that stop you from speaking to me.  You were not put off by my attitude and ingratitude. You did not set me aside for not adequately preparing myself to be in your house.  You met me at the door.

You came to me through a characterization of John Wesley and smoke from the snuffed Christ candle.  Who could guess?  A couple of years ago I had seen our district superintendent play the role of John Wesley.  Yet, his impassioned words of faith, his fervor, and his loyalty to the Master spoke to my heart reminding me it is precisely at moments when we are called to do what we do not want to do that faith oozes into us, when grace is made manifest, and when love embraces us.  I was drawn in.

At the end of the service as we sang A Charge to Keep I Have and the child snuffed the Christ candle, the smoke lingered and moved silently outward.  I thought how the light of your love reaches outward to your beloved.  I realized the error of my weary behavior and my lacking of appreciation for all you are in every situation.  I felt the sting of my own sin and at the same time your wondrous and loving mercy.

Gracious God,
thank you
for pouring out
your compassion
upon me today.
Thank you
for breathing
into me
your life-giving breath.
How blessed
I am.

Love always, Andrea