Fears and Tears

I woke up in the dead of night with the beginning of the lyrics of the famous Neil Diamond song repeating in my mind – Hello, my friend, Hello.

I felt a tug at my heart to get out of bed and spend time with the Lord. In the quiet and stillness of the night, just the Lord and I, to engage in conversations of the heart.

So I follow the prompting of the Lord and I get up to spend time with Him. I offer Him my first fruits of the day and begin with morning prayer. After this, I spend time with Him in scripture, where I listen and reflect on what I am reading.

The following verses move my heart, the first from morning prayer and the second from the book of Ruth.

Your inmost being must be renewed. Ephesians 4:23. Indeed you love truth in the heart. Then in the secret of my heart, teach me wisdom. Psalm 51.

Wherever you go, I will go. Wherever you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people and your God, my God. Ruth 1:16

Lord, the words of Ruth to her mother in law, Naomi speak to my heart. I imagine them traveling back to Naomi’s home of Bethlehem with great trust in the Lord. With courage, Ruth chooses to stay with Naomi and she gives up going to her home, to her family, to her own mother. She goes on a new journey, to a foreign place, out of love for her mother in law.

Lord, I feel you call me to do the same. To follow You, in trust where You lead. You put people in my path for the journey towards You, and I am not alone in this life. You provide what I need.

You call me as a daughter, You call me as a friend, You call me closer to Your heart with a hello that stirs me awake.

Thank you, Lord, for this special time together. I pray for renewal of heart and mind and for the grace of wisdom, Amen.

For prayer is nothing else than being on terms of friendship with God. St. Teresa of Avila