Monday, August 15, 2016

Dearest God,

There are spiritual treasures to be found, waiting to share their story and bless our lives.  We may think every day is nothing more than routine, ordinary; yet, just beneath the surface, there is treasure, your own gift to us.

Along the fence row at our home in Maine there are hundreds of invasive maple seedlings, unwanted ugly trees, and roots, roots, and roots of long ago dead plants. For weeks now I have worked in the dirt following your plan to create a spiritual garden that will bless generations to come whether family or not.  I have cut down, pruned, dug up, plucked, and ripped and torn to clear the land.  Each day as I clear and clean, more and more I see the vision of what can be.

Yesterday I helped my neighbor, my cohort in crime, cut back invasive bittersweet from the garden.  Six feet high, I would cut and then pull, cut and pull, cut and pull.  All of a sudden I began to think of weeds, tall, gangly, deep-rooted, invasive habits, beliefs, and practices sown in my own life and that of my family.  As I pulled I thought of children and grandchildren, siblings, and other family members.  I started murmuring, "You will not stay rooted in our family.  You are out of here.  No longer, you are going, gone!"  I think my neighbor thought I was crazy; however, it was so therapeutic as I began thinking of the spiritual and emotional life of my family and me.  As I tackled the physical work in the garden, my murmurings were prayers for our family.  As I cleared, I began to see what could be possibly for us as well.

Sometimes the treasure comes in ways we do not expect; yet, you come to us through sweat and tears, showing us the way, blessing us once more time.

Thank you,
Heavenly Father,
for gifts unimaginable.
Thank you
for hard work
of the spirit
that helps us
clear and clean
our body, mind,
and spirits.
Show us
the way,
O Lord;
show us
the way
to hidden treasures
of faith.

Love, Andrea