Sunday, May 10, 2020

Dear God,

As I climbed into bed last night, I was troubled.  My soul was filled with fear and anxiety.  I really wondered where in the world we can find the truth, the real truth and nothing but the truth.

I have to confess I have lost faith in politicians and those who stand to gain something by what they say or what they do, whether good or bad.  When I hear more political garbage, I question and doubt.  I wonder who the "truth" speakers really are.

When I woke up this morning, I felt the same way.  I felt discouraged, angry and anxious.  I stepped inside my lovely study which is a glassed-in, screened-in porch.  I sat down in the chair and prayed, "O Lord, where is the truth?  How do I find it?  Help me, O Lord, I pray."

As I sat quietly with my circle of friends of Thomas Merton, the psalmist, St. Paul, Henri Nouwen and Father Edward Hayes, I was so blessed when each of them spoke to my distress.  The psalmist spoke, "The Lord is good.  He will cut the cords used by the ungodly to bind me."  I took a deep breath and let out some of my tension.  I read on from Henri Nouwen, "The issues of the world are very important.  I have to learn how to enter them from the heart of God.  I need to be deeply rooted in the heart of God before I can know how to respond faithfully."  I drew in another breath and tears came.

What I have learned at your knee is this:  You are always with us.  You are always interested in our pain and confusion.  You want to speak hope and comfort to us and when we are comforted by hope, you want us to act on your behalf in the world.  You want us to take part in bringing light to the darkness, hope to those in despair and comfort to those who are hurting.  You want us to be responsible world citizens reaching out even to the weary and dark corners of the world.  You want us to offer peace and the only way to do this is to dive deep into prayer where I can dwell with you for truth.

O Lord,
indeed you
are good.
You bless
in so
many ways.
You touch us
and inspire us
when we
are low
and weary.
You come
bringing gifts
of hope,
peace and comfort.
Thank you,
Loving Creator,
Beautiful Friend,
Wondrous Comforter.

Love, Andrea