But this is no ordinary day
certainly no ordinary Wednesday
For today we stand reminded of what we truly are
dust and ash
surrounded by death

And suddenly we find that
our desires
our differences
our anticipations
are likewise nothing but dust and ash

We would rather treat this day
as though it made no difference in our lives
like we do nearly every other day

But how can we be honest with ourselves
and thereby be honest with you
if we never admit how terrified we are of death

We are dust and to dust we shall return

But just as today is no ordinary day
you are no ordinary God

So we wait with eager expectation
fearful, but hopeful
we wait

But in our more honest moments
we know what we really are
formed from dust
lower than angels
cast away from your presence

And we realize that we are arrogant
with very little cause

And in our arrogance
we remember the humility of Christ
the one in very nature God
the one higher than all angels
the one seated at your right hand

Christ, the one who became as we are
dusty, lowly, cast away
so that we might be as he is
like you, higher than angels, in your presence

You, God who ever escapes our grasp
You, God just beyond the reach of our minds
You, God who made us in your image to be formed into your likeness

Break our arrogance
but let our thoughts be of you
Break our arrogance
but let our actions reflect you
Break our arrogance
but let us grow more into your likeness
as we follow the one who was and is like you

You were there at the beginning of all things
you spoke and light shone out of darkness
you spoke and the waters were separated
you spoke and the dry land appeared
you spoke and life teemed on the earth
you spoke and we refused to listen

But you are the God of beginnings
and you did not let our false step
take away the goodness of your creation

You give us new beginnings
even when we try so hard
to bring an end to your work

Even though we do not deserve it
begin again with us

But we also confess that
more often than not
we give you far too little credit for your handiwork
enamored as we are with our own creativity

But you created the earth and all that fills it
you created the sun and set its course
you set the seas in place and formed the land
you made every living creature, unique as they are
and you formed us from the good earth
and breathed your life into us
that we may dwell among your good creation

Forgive us for forgetting who you are
Forgive us for forgetting who we are
Forgive us for forgetting our rightful place within your creation

In our deep hope, we know that you are not finished yet
So keep creating, forming, setting, making, breathing
until your new creation is complete

We try, and often fail
to seek you with our lives

We try, and often fail
to find you among your people

We try…and we fail…too often

We know you to be no easy mark
with your standard of love
with your example of faithfulness
with your word of life
surrounded as we are by hate, infidelity and death

But we hope, despite our knowledge,
that you are not far off
because we know that our love, fidelity and life
stand no chance without you

Be here when we try
Be here when we fail
Just be here
and we will keep trying

Indeed you make the sun shine
on both the just and the unjust
but darkness persists

We try as best we can
to live and walk in your light
to lead others to your light
to not let our own darkness prevail

But we must confess that sometimes
we prefer other sources of light instead of you
the light of power
the light of money
the light of success
And all the while we pretend not to know
that such lights will fade

The world is a dark place

But the darkness has not won
The sun follows its course, day after day
reminding us of  your faithfulness

When darkness threatens to overwhelm
When we follow other lights that flicker and fade
Turn your face upon us
and be our true light
so that we may be your lights in a world threatened by darkness

The world is a dark place

But we wait and hope and pray
knowing that  your light will overcome the darkness

You so often surprise us
with your words
with your judgments
with your faithfulness
we are not quite sure how to respond

You so often frustrate us
with your mystery
with your indifference
with your absence
we fear that you are no God at all

But you also often remind us:
“I will be their God and they will be my people”
You are on our side
“Follow me”
We know how to respond
“I am with you”
And we know that you are here.

We give you thanks
for your disruptions
for your surprises
even for your frustrations
but mostly for your reminders

Remind us, again and again if necessary
We will try to remember

Amen.

Sure we know you ‘saved’ us
and we are grateful
But really, most of the time,
we seem to get along quite well without your help

Until…
we realize that all is not well
we realize that all hope is gone
we realize that you and your salvation
are nowhere to be found

Save us, oh God of our salvation!
Save us from ourselves
Save us from our pride
Save us from our idols
Save us from our concepts of you
Save us!

Oh God
you are our salvation
We wait and hope
knowing that you will come

We pray in the name of your salvation enfleshed

We would certainly have others believe we are humble
so they can think more highly of us
thus even in our humility
we show ourselves to be too proud

There is no room for humility in our lives
filled as they are with other things

But then…
we read about the humility of Christ:
not usurping authority…emptying himself…
taking the form of a servant…humbling himself…
becoming obedient…unto death…even on a cross

We marvel at such humility
and we think of how we could use the power
that comes from being the son of God

Yet again, our pride is misplaced
and we miss the point of Christ’s example

Make us humble, God, whatever it takes
so that we may only be proud in you

We pray in the name of your humility enfleshed

I know you’ve been watching me
I’ve kept my eyes out for you too

I’m sorry for the long silence
but I needed some distance
Your presence was too much for me

I thought I needed to make things right
I thought I needed to work some things out
I thought I needed time and space

But as it turns out…all I needed was you

I need you

Thank you for waiting
Thank you for watching
Thank you for calling me back
as you always do

I am yours