Jan 15, 2016 | confession, images of God, prayer
Take this shard of weary clay — cracked and chipped, dusty and dry — and pour into it some drop of grace and glory, some measure of light and delight to overflow where it may be useful and beautiful like a rainbow against the storm like faith despite all...
Dec 12, 2015 | Advent, confession, wholeness
I cannot be other than I am. Rejoice always. I cannot be other than I am. I cannot save myself. Peace be with you. I cannot be other than I am. I cannot labor for my own rebirth. The LORD bless you and keep you. I cannot be other than I am. Do not be afraid. on Titus...
Dec 8, 2015 | Advent, confession, poem, theodicy
It does not matter, not now or in the end, whether God means us well or ill, For what wrath could God rain that we have not already poured on one another? And what good could God wrest from the clutches of the few to bless the many? Let the Savior spare Himself from...
Dec 3, 2015 | Advent, confession, prayer
I am the child at a parade: “Put me up on your shoulders, I want to see!” I am Zacchaeus behind the crowd: “Give me a leg up into this tree, I want to see!” I am the Christmas-present-shaker, the “give me sky-writing” pray-er, the...
Nov 22, 2015 | confession, prayer
O God of David and Esther, God too of Pontius Pilate, Sovereign of kings and queens and politicians, Most Holy Wonder and Ancient Wisdom, you who are the beginning and end, In prayer we collect our voices; in prayer we raise our plea before you, saying: Remember your...
Oct 5, 2015 | confession, ministry
As Carol Howard Merritt and I have been examining clergy self-care in a series of blogs (Carol’s latest post considers clergy vulnerability), I find myself digging into the life stories that have shaped my outlook on self-care. Here’s praying that this...
