As long as we continue to live as if we are what we
do, what we have, and what other people think about us, we will remain filled
with judgments, opinions, evaluations, and condemnations. We will remain
addicted to putting people and things in their "right" place.
― Henri J.M. Nouwen
____________________________________________________________
We are often woven together
in macabre intimacy
which drives us into a rigid world
of judgment
and condemnation
A world of “us” and “them,”
“win” or “lose,”
“right” or “wrong.”
O Sacred one,
you showed us how to live
what it means to be truly human,
how to reflect your image
through the life, death, and resurrection of
Jesus.
Jesus was not defined by what he had (not much)
the labels he carried (Rabbi)
his ethnicity or race
not even his gender
Jesus was defined by the way he loved
And by love alone
He did not worry about what people thought about
him.
He merely lived out his calling to be
Light, Salt,
God with us
Jesus was not blind to the ills of the world
or the weaknesses of others
But he saw more
much more
When he looked at people,
he saw not only the failure, but the promise
not only the darkness but the light
not only the human container
(which is why adjectives were not important to
him)
but also the sacred seed
He saw children of God
All beloved
It was not his goal to be “right” while they were
wrong.
He simply wanted to be present,
and by his loving presence
transform and heal
and create newness
O God
Forgive us for our need to be right
Forgive us for those times when we get hung up on
he adjectives
Black, white, male, female, conservative, liberal,
American, Iranian
Help us to see the Sacred in others
So that the Spirit in us can greet the Spirit in
them
Namaste
Shalom
Yo
Saol
Do not let us use the wrong things to define ourselves
or others
Help us to be present
To be open
To honor and respect
To welcome
To be kind
And be
a reflection of your love
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