Sunday, August 31, 2014

Dear God,

I watched her from the choir loft as she entered the sanctuary.  I knew her sad story, her fear, and burdens.  As she slid into the pew, she settled and then closed her eyes.  Whatever she saw in the depths of her mind caused her to smile.  I recognized it right away as the smile of faith.

I waited in the choir loft to talk to the woman, really a virtual stranger except for the one time I met her at worship.  When she walked over, I invited her to the women's retreat.  A spot had opened up; a woman had to cancel to help her grieving husband who just lost his brother to cancer.  The retreat fee was fully paid.  The woman smiled again; this time it was a big smile.  "I've been thinking of the retreat but I didn't know where I would be or if I had a job or..."  I told her the minute I saw her walk in, I knew she was the one to which I needed to offer the retreat.

As I drove home from church, I thought about the way in which you quicken the human spirit to the divine at work.  The whole scene at church was your doing...again.  My heart welled up in thanksgiving and praise.  Who would want to miss even one scene of a divine encounter?

You are gracious,
Master of Creation,
thank you
for your gift.
Thank you
for working
your wonder.
Thank you
for touching lives
and inspiring us
to faith.
Thank you
for loving mercy
that never ends.

Love, Andrea