Annunciations, Renunciations and My Warrior Spirit

The Annunciation by Fra Angelico from the Art Now and Then blogspot

Good Day, God!

I’m back after doing an hour of Centering (wordless) Prayer this morning. I prayed in a group, which is so much more fruitful than when I pray alone. (Did I just hear a reminder about the importance of being in the Body of Christ?)

I spent my first 30 minutes wrestling with You, God! I wanted You to do what I want. I really care about the  various elections coming up and did not want to release the outcomes into Your Hands!

Oh my! How hard it is to TRUST You! It made me think of Mary who gets First Prize in trusting You, God. Still, in looking closely at Mary’s face in Fra Angelico’s painting, I wonder if I am seeing a bit of pain. The Bible makes it sound like her response was an immediate Yes! But, maybe she had a moment’s hesitation?

I admit, God, I’d find it encouraging if she had paused — thinking of Joseph’s reaction. Hmm. In a sense she had to renounce her “good name” as part of accepting the Annunciation. Aaah, God, it comes to me that Renunciations are a Big Part of our relationship with You.

After mostly putting the elections into Your Hands, I had to deal with my Warrior Spirit. Warriors don’t believe in unconditionally Trusting You — considering non-fighters as Not Real People. My Warrior Part had to be offered up (YET AGAIN!) to You.

Sigh. I am such a Hard Case, God! People who trust You — even unto Death — are the Most Real People. They are Lights from Heaven.