Tuesday, June 17, 2014

Dearest God,

Every day you come to us!  You come disguised as a stranger in our midst.  You come as a delicate budding flower.  You come in the bird song.  As we open our eyes and remain attentive and expectant, you visit us if nothing more than to say, "Hello beloved."

This afternoon a stonemason came to give us a quote to redo our front steps and sidewalk.  Mired in concrete dust wearing a torn and ragged shirt and shorts with concrete dirt up and down his legs, he gave us dimensions and costs.  Then we walked out back to talk about a stone patio.  At some point my husband invited him to walk out to the spiritual path to see our woods and river.  He entered the path carrying his paper and pen and stopped by the wooden image of a saint leaning down with a vessel of water for the birds to drink.  "Which saint is this?"  He asked me. "My favorite saint, Saint Francis."  I replied.  Right there he continued his walk singing, "Make me a channel of your peace. Where there is hatred let me bring love."  I followed joining in the song.  "Where there is injury your pardon, Lord.  And where there is doubt, true faith in you.  Make me a channel of your peace. Where there's despair, let me bring hope. Where there is darkness, only light.  And where there's sadness ever joy.  Oh, Master grant that I may never seek.  So much to be consoled as to console.  To be understood as to understand.  To be loved as to love with all my soul.  Make me a channel of your peace.  It is in pardoning that we are pardoned.  It is in giving to all men that we receive.  And in dying that we're born to eternal life."  By the time we finishing singing the blessed song, we were sitting at the station I lovingly call The Table.

The stonemason picked right up where he left off talking about stones versus brick for our patio.  It was as if there had never even been a blip.  That's when I really realized you come in simple ways, sing your song, and continue life as normal.

Praise you, Lord,
for unexpected gifts.
Thank you
for your
living presence,
your song,
and your message.
My most
joyous moments
are moments
with you.

Love always, Andrea