Happy Monday, Friends!
Continuing my theme of using the Nicene Creed as my starting point, the next lines of the Creed read: “He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.”
Friends, last week I wrote about hope; the hope of the resurrection which we have as Christians and believers in Jesus. I wanted to be hopeful last week. I wanted to get to work both in my role as ED of LOVEboldly and on other projects, namely my dissertation. Yes, that happened, I put in my hours for LB and made discernable progress on my projects, but throughout the week I seemed to be just going through the motions. By the end of the week, I overslept Friday morning and didn’t really care.
Last week the church celebrated Ash Wednesday, the start to the penitential season of Lent. I have complicated feelings about Ash Wednesday and the devotion of having ashes placed on one’s forehead and the “necessity” of then allowing those ashes to remain throughout the day. However, growing up there was a particular hymn we sang that day and only that day known simply as “Ashes.” The hymn’s second verse says:
We offer You our failures, we offer You attempts; The gifts not fully given, the dreams not fully dreamt. Give our stumblings direction, give our visions wider view, An offering of ashes, an offering to You.
Just as we are not saved by our works, but by the grace of God, so too are we not condemned by our failures and our attempts. There can be hope even in the moments of fear and the moments of loss. Where do you need hope this week? Where has your best come up short?
Let us pray: God, give us hope in a world where hope seems in short supply. Bless us when we miss our goals and help us find grace in the times when we fail. Guide us to learn from mistakes and return better. We ask this through you Son’s holy name. Amen.
Blessings, friends, on your week! Please let me know if there is anything I can do for you.
Faithfully,
Ben
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