08-15-19

ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS

August 15, 2019

Scripture: Isaiah 43:19

Look! I’m doing a new thing; now it sprouts up; don’t you recognize it? I’m making a way in the desert, paths in the wilderness.

Thought for the Day: For the foreseeable future, I am going to make Thursday a day of prayer. I will use the above text from Isaiah each week as my starting place as I pray for a world free of violence, bigotry and hate…believing that God is already doing a new thing. Do we recognize it?

Prayer: It was Bob the Builder who asked, “Can we fix it?” And with an enthusiasm that shook many living rooms across the country, the response among children was, “Yes we can!”

Merciful Creator, you look upon the life you engendered and nurtured in this world, yet we have not always respected or been the best stewards of that life energy. Our choices, so often short sided, have discounted the value of this gift. We have disrespected it within others, and we have too easily disregarded it within ourselves. Your Spirit whispers to us a rhetorical question, “Can we fix it?” Our lips want to join the millions of children who have responded without hesitation, “Yes we can!” They know the story of Bob, and they know he always finds a way. We know your story, Lord, and we try to believe in your patient capacity when it comes to finding a way. Provide us time to do some soul searching with your Spirit as the guide. Let us name the wounds we carry within us that too often provide consent to others who may want to injure us. Let us name the wounds we carry within us that buy into the myth that our healing will come through disparaging or hurting others. Can we fix it, we ask? Let our emphasis be upon the word WE as WE need you and your transformative love that is given unconditionally. Let us work on ourselves, but in doing so, let us provide a gracious and safe environment where others can work on their stuff. In and through your love, we might just find a way to fix this. Or maybe, we will learn to join you in the new thing already happening in our midst. Amen.

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