Thursday, May 9, 2019

Dear God,

Fifteen years ago the only view one could see was a gnarly, tangled, ominous woods.  It was not altogether ugly; after all, there were trees, skies and clouds.  However, all I could really see was all the invasive stuff that had long ago taken over the woods.  I didn't really want to go out there.  My children forbade my grandchildren to go back there at all.  But that all changed when I heard your voice say, "There is the opening to the spiritual path."

Since then, a couple of my friends have annually helped me clear, clean, dig, rip, tear, pull, cut, remove, and prune the nasty stuff.  Today I looked out from the hill and saw the beautiful river to the north and to the south.  Yesterday my friend Cindy and I watched a black water bird soar from one end to the other.  What astounding beauty!

That made me realize how much gnarly, tangled stuff is in the way of a purely beautiful spiritual life.  When I think of my own meager spirituality, I recognize a lot of yucky stuff that is in my way, stuff that hinders me from fully seeing the beauty of creation even inside me and others.  Yet, with a little work (and sometimes a whole lot of work) we can make our way to you, to the You in the world and in ourselves.  And what beauty, what incredible beauty awaits us.  For we too can soar like on the wings of eagles.  We can soar in joy, peace, love, faith and hope.

Show us
the way
to you,
Holy One,
show us
the way.
Help us clear
and rid ourselves
of all
that stands
in the way
of our
fullest experience
and expression
of living faith.
Then fill us
with every praise
for you.

Love, Andrea