Rock Bottom

O God, the nations have defiled your holy temple; they have laid Jerusalem in ruins. They have given the bodies of your servants to the birds of the air for food. – Psalm 79:1-2 (NRSV) The bleakness of early Advent – these first few days when the lectionary...

At a Distance

Then God said to Moses, “Come up to the LORD, you and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel, and worship at a distance. Moses alone shall come near the LORD; but the others shall not come near, and the people shall not come up with him.” –...

It’s Going To Be Bad

“Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid. You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away.’ … I have told you this before it occurs, so that when it does occur, you may believe.” – John 14:27b-29 (NRSV) It’s the speech that I call The Great...

Whispers

I hear a voice I had not known: “I relieved your shoulder of the burden; your hands were freed from the basket. In distress you called, and I rescued you. – Psalm 81:5b-7a (NRSV) I’ve never felt close to God in a personal buddy-buddy kind of way. It’s never been...

Saltiness

My flavor is lost and my spirit is faint within me, but o my God, surely this salt of humanity can still be scattered on the ground to melt the ice we fear. My light is dim and my flesh is so very weary, but o my God, surely this lowly lamp can still hold one shadow...

Remember

Though our teeth are set on edge, O God, let us never forget your name. Though the night is long with wrestling, O God, let us never forget your blessing. Though the sun and moon strike us, O God, let us never forget your help. Though the litany of lies grows, O God,...

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