Thursday, May 28,2009

A fundamental problem with human beings is that they do not like boundaries. They do not like anyone, even God, setting limits on what they can do. The tendency is to aspire to "become like God." Isn't it true? Unwilling to acknowledge God as God, we replace God with gods of our own making, or with ourselves as our own god.

Opening Prayer
Beloved God, be near as I begin this new day of life. The work of this spring day knocks at my door, anxious for me to begin. But let this present moment be as still as a stone as I rest my heart in you. In the peace of this springtime morning, quiet my anxiety, fear, and restlessness so that I may live today fully for you. Amen.

A Word from Scripture
Now the whole earth had one language and the same words. And as they migrated from the east, they came upon a plain in the land of Shinar and settled there. And they said to one another, “Come, let us make bricks, and burn them thoroughly.” And they had brick for stone, and bitumen for mortar. Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves; otherwise we shall be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.”
The Lord came down to see the city and the tower, which mortals had built. And the Lord said, “Look, they are one people, and they have all one language; and this is only the beginning of what they will do; nothing that they propose to do will now be impossible for them. Come, let us go down, and confuse their language there, so that they will not understand one another’s speech.” So the Lord scattered them abroad from there over the face of all the earth, and they left off building the city. Therefore it was called Babel, because there the Lord confused the language of all the earth; and from there the Lord scattered them abroad over the face of all the earth. Genesis 11:1-9

Prayer of Confession
O God, we have built cities for ourselves. We have sought fame and fortune for our own self-interest. We have rushed through our days with unseeing eyes, unhearing ears, and emotions that are dulled or frazzled. We do not acknowledge your gifts and we ignore the work of your hands, because we insist on being in charge. Have mercy on us and free us from ourselves. Amen

Blessing
In our journeys to and fro
God direct us;
In our happiness and pleasure
God bless us;
In care, anxiety, or trouble
God sustain us;
In peril and in danger
God protect us.