In the morning when I rise

Grace isn't about God creating humans and flawed beings and then acting all hurt when we inevitably fail and then stepping in like the hero to grant us grace - like saying, "Oh, it's OK, I'll be the good guy and forgive you." It's God saying, "I love the world too much to let your sin define you and be the final word. I am a God who makes all things new.”

 Nadia Bolz-Weber, Pastrix: The Cranky, Beautiful Faith of a Sinner & Saint

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In the morning when I rise

In the morning when I rise

In the morning when I rise

give me Jesus   (African American Spiritual)

each morning when we rise

we have two choices

we can be defined by the world

or we can be defined by the Sacred

in the world we are defined by

money and power

possessions and influence

in the world we are defined

by labels and titles

with the Sacred we are defined by love

we are defined by One who makes all things news

Sometimes it doesn’t feel that way

for in our own weird way we have Secularized the Sacred

giving God attributes which are ungodly

making God a judging retributive being who counts our

ills, and holds them against us

who controls us, manipulates us with fear

and threats of eternal damnation

who demands performance, or else

turn or burn

but in reality God is love

God is a parent in whose eyes

We are wonderful and beautiful

Albeit a bit flawed, and perhaps a touch naughty and willful

But God persists in love

Persists in forgiveness and generosity

In the morning when I rise

I do not, therefore

Want to embrace the world

With its hate and greed

With its demands for performance

In the morning when I rise

I want Jesus

I want grace

I want love

I want it all

So that secure and loved

I can walk through my day

As a Sacred child

Open, vulnerable

Giving, forgiving

Caring and yes

Loving

It’s a much better way to live!