Because I Have Faith
When my wife got sick
and our lives were turned upside down
and the freedom I had grown so accustomed to was gone,
and when I had to watch her cry
in pain and fear and suffering,
because I have faith, I asked
“Where are you in this situation, God?”
When I was repulsed by segregation and complacency
and my judging attitude and cynicism
and the exercise of power over the powerless,
and when a sense of confusion and impotence overwhelmed me,
because I have faith, I asked
“Where are you in this situation, God?”
And then God reminded me that when gazing at the sunset
I don’t ask this question –
not because I don’t have faith,
but because God’s presence is so apparent.
And then I realized that the answer is always the same,
that where God is, is with me, with us,
always, and in all ways.
Always encouraging and inviting us to more.
When witnessing a sunset,
to stop and soak it in,
to receive the healing and wholeness beauty offers.
When facing pain and loss,
to surrender,
to let go and trust that God is suffering with us,
and to know that whatever we are
and whatever we do is enough.
When disturbed by injustice,
to act out of courage and love,
to trust my heart
and to speak what I believe is the truth.
Reflection and Prayer
Ask God to bring to your awareness a time in your life when you experienced a miracle (and let God define what a miracle is). Bask in that experience once more, and after a while become even more aware of how God was with you then and how you felt. Express your feelings to God this moment and allow God to do the same with you.