Grant me patience, God,
when my computer
updates and restarts.
Grant me patience, God,
right now!!
Remind me, God,
that like a computer,
I sometimes need to update,
to expand my thinking,
and increase my knowledge
to help me function more effectively.
Remind me, God,
that like a computer,
sometimes I need to turn off,
to rest, to renew,
and to love myself that I might
love you,
love your beloved children,
and love your wondrous creation
more faithfully.
In Jesus’ name I pray.
Amen.
Filed under Prayer, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
“By faith we connect the action of restoration to God’s work through Jesus. By experience, we note that one cannot restore a right relationship that never existed (that is many experiences of women, people of color, LGBT folks, youth, differently abled, immigrant, poor, differently political, and others). Now that we are beginning to recognize through the Belhar Confession that all is not, and has not been ‘right,’ how will I/you/we commit to thinking differently.
“The Greek verb katallasso (‘reconconcile’) could also be translate as ‘to change’ (for example, a course of action.”
Eric A. Thomas
Lenten Reflections on the Confession of Belhar
What will we change? What will I change? To use Eric’s words (with a parenthetical addition): “How will we (I) create new ways of restoration, partnership, advocacy, and welcome?”
This Lenten season I am using a new resource to explore the Belhar Confession: Lenten Reflections on the Confession of Belhar, edited by Kerri N. Allen and Donald K. McKim. The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), in which I serve as a teaching elder (pastor), added the Confession of Belhar to our Book of Confessions in 2016. This confession came from the Dutch Reformed Mission Church during its historic struggle against apartheid in South Africa.
See you along the Trail.
Filed under Antiracism, Books, Lent, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
Along the Graybeard Trail 