Tuesday, August 25, 2015

Dear God,

Hope is a miracle when it arises out of the ashes of despair.  When all seems lost, when there is no apparent reason to believe change will come, and when life seems very bleak, hope can suddenly appear out of nowhere.  The surprise of hope can warm the heart, ease the suffering, and bless the soul. Hope is a miracle when it arises out of the ashes of despair.

How often, O Lord, have your people given up?  How often have we boldly stated nothing would change?  How often have we buried faith so despair and darkness could prevail?  Often, way too often. 

The truth is we like to have the final word.  We want to live in darkness and despair.  We want to remain angry, resentful, and bitter.  When we say nothing will change, it is because we carefully and methodically keep everything exactly the same so we can keep everything in place.  In those moments not only is faith covered up, it is nearly dead, lifeless, and useless.

It is true there are realities in our world where evil and darkness rule.  There are those who terrorize others out of the bowels of hell.  Their mission is fear; they spread it like wildfire.  What they do not realize is there is a gem, so wondrous, so beautiful, so full of love tucked into the soul of every creature.  This is you, O God.  How could we possibly be made in your image if we do not have your DNA inside us?  Although evil seems to rule and win the day, there is always victory in the human soul where you reside, where you have the final word, the word of victory.

Blessed Lord,
thank you
for that
piece of you
that dwells
within us.
Thank you
for the blessing
of faith
that always
brings light
into every darkness.
Sometimes the
fire rages where
the light spreads
penetrating the darkness.
At other times
it is
but a
tiny spark.
But always,
always the light
is present
and as long
as the
light shines
there is room
for a miracle.

Love always, Andrea