Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Dearest God,

Early this morning as I sat quietly in the monastery chapel, I watched the 90-year-old diminutive nun light the Christ candle on the altar and then the two candles nearby at the crucifix cross.  As she looked into the light and then turned and sat down, I realized how each of us are to light the darkness where we are. You ignite the light and then place it in our hands.  We can light or not; we can radiate or not; we can shine or not.  The sister became the light that drew out my own darkness.

More and more I realize you give light daily.  There is no shortage of divine light.  You offer it to each of us in unique and diverse ways because we all have various capabilities of recognizing the light.  Your kindly way of revealing the light shows us once again just how deep your love is for us.

And just what does your light do for us?  It warms us deep within particularly when the waves of life crash over us causing us feel cold and alone.  It fills us when we are empty, really empty of love, understanding, peace, and inner well being.  It changes us producing spiritual relief that lifts us up when we feel down. It gives us hope especially when we feel hopeless and despairing.  It builds faith, that wondrous relationship of God and human, parent and child, teacher and student.  It gives peace, a sweet peace that can enter our soul bringing with it the power to restore, renew, and reconcile.  It produces joy, the great bubbly that can conquer any emotion that leaves us wanting.  Finally, it dispels the darkness, every kind of darkness that enslaves keeping us from developing into the full human beings you have destined us to be.

Who would not want to reach for this light?  Who would not want to display it for others?

Holy God,
great giver of light,
I bow down
before you
giving thanks
and my
deepest devotion.
You are
the light
that shines
in the darkness.
You are
the good
that can
and does
conquer evil.
You are love
that washes
over us
any time
we are hungry
for it.
You are God;
there is none
like you.
Thank you.

My love always, Andrea