Vespers Prayer

(I probably wrote about this prayer last year; but, it is a favorite of mine from Vespers).

O God, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending...

    Are you calling to us, God? To what are you calling us? The future is uncertain, the church as we know it is radically changing right before our very eyes. What new thing are you breathing life into? 

...by paths as yet untrodden... 

    No one has taken a road quite like this before. How will we get there if there is no path?

...through perils unknown...

    Dangers. There will be danger. Anger. Failure. Defeat. They all could be waiting for us. It is hard not to be afraid...

...Give us faith to go out with good courage....

   But, there it is. Faith. Faith is the net that supports us, the arms that surround us, the eyes that point the way.

...not knowing where we go....

    Trusting. Leaning on God's promises. Where will we go?

...but only that your hand is leading us...

    Yes! Your hand, God. Leading. Lifting us up when we fall. Pulling us along when we falter. Guiding us along the way.

...and your love supporting us...

    Most importantly - that love - YOUR love, Lord. Perfect love.

...through Jesus Christ our Lord...

    (Who has been through this before on the road to Calvary.)

Amen

    Resurrection comes at last!

Out!

...Jesus cried with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out!" John 11:45








Jesus is calling us out:
  "Church, come out!" 

Come out!
from behind the walls of the building ~
   there is a world out here where God is moving. 

Come out!
from the non-life-giving traditions ~
  look at what new things God has given us!

Come out!
from your fears ~ 
   with God, nothing is impossible, remember?

Come out!
from the desire to some how control the Spirit ~
   instead, let the Holy Spirit breathe through you.

Come out!
from antagonistic behavior ~
  live a life of giving and forgiving.

Come out!
from your pettiness and insecure behaviors ~
  there's real work to be done; join in!

Come out, Church!
Come out!

Coattails

"I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eyes upon you." Psalm 32: 8

O, God

I feel as though I am riding
on the coattails of the Holy Spirit.
I feel that warm breath, the ru'ah
Blowing in my face and over me.
We are flying, flying forward.

The ride is both invigorating and uncertain.
Where are you taking me?
Where will I end up?
Will I be prepared?

God says, "I will instruct you and teach you
the way that you should go;
I will counsel you
With my eye upon you."

I need not fear, God
For you are in front of me.
You are like a parent
Squatting in front of a child
Who is learning to walk.

You encourage me
Watch and smile at each step I take
You cheer me on
And catch me when I stumble.