We are a pencil in the hand of God.

"I'm a little pencil in the hand of a writing God, who is sending a love letter to the world."
Mother Teresa

Today many of us are still reeling from the bombing in Boston yesterday.  Spring was in the air, many had the day off, and some of us just watched the TV with admiration as people ran miles faster and farther than we could ever imagine.  The elite athletes had completed the race and those that were running for charity or in support of someone near and dear to them continued along the arduous route.

The beautiful day was interrupted when time stopped, when a loud sound startled and changed the lives of many in an instant.  Images came across our screens of people running toward the wounded and suffering.  The beautiful day was interrupted and time stopped, but these people didn't.

When a tragedy like this happens we come together as a people and as community.  Prayers are said from all different faith traditions, and in many different languages.  People come together to help in ways that had not even occurred to them minutes before.  Runners running to hospitals to give blood, carrying the injured to get help, opening homes and offering food to those in need.  We contact our loved ones to be sure they are ok.

Last week in the gospel we heard Jesus ask Peter, "Do you really love me?"  Peter responded, Yes, of course I do, you know I do.  Jesus asks Peter two more times, and each time Peter's answer is the same, Yes, of course. John 21:15-19.  Yes, of course, I love God, but how does God know that?   As I write this I am wondering how we can live that our?  How can we feel the passion and necessity of loving God in our daily lives?

We may never be able to stop bad things from happening in the world, but we can be present in the lives we have.  We can begin as we do all ancient liturgy, and give thanks.  Give thanks for the many blessings that we have in our lives.  We give thanks for a life of faith and love.  We can share with God what is on our hearts, share our pain and fears. We can pray for others, for the world and all in need.   We can ask God to use us in a way that best serves the world.

In Joan Chittisters book, The Monastery of the Heart, she writes of obedience, a very hard word for many.  

"We must obey God, the Rule of Benedict says, 

with the good gifts which are in us-

with all the good, all the love,

all the talent, all the wisdom, 

all the care, all the concentration, 

all the abandon of soul

that is in us. 

We must obey the voices of life

that are being drowned out

around us

but are, nevertheless, 

heard by God always.

These are the voices that 

call to us to obey 

the needs of the world,

the cry of the poor."  

When Mother Teresa talks about being a pencil that God may use to write a love letter to the world, I wonder if we are only able to do that when we connect with all the good, all the love, all the talent, all the wisdom and care that is within us.  All that is God's gift to us.  Perhaps obedience to God becomes listening and living into the light, strength and compassion that is who God needs us to be.  

Today as we are reminded how fragile and sacred the world is, let us not let messages that limit Gods grace and power diminish us.  Let us remember that we are a loving and vibrant people.  We are a people that all have a story, our own story and yet one we all share.