The children clambered over the rocks
And, Lord, I watched them with pleasure
Enjoying the early evening.
One, sure footed, sped from
Rock to rock
Like a fleet footed mountain goat;
The other followed determinedly
Unsure, using both hands and feet
To scramble safely behind.
At times losing sight of her friend.
My thoughts turning
To the experience of following,
I pondered our discipleship of you
In the the light of Easter.
Each one of us is different:
Some follow easily,
Never looking back simply
Drawn by your example.
Sure of their commitment
And with implicit trust
They scramble over the rocks
And obstacles with confidence.
For others as they follow
Determined to keep going,
With gritted teeth
Fear of falling,
Constant backward glances,
It is only love of you,
Gracious Lord,
That holds them steady.
Every slip and slide,
Every perceived
Danger
They face only because
They can do no other.
Experience is a strange thing.
For some it gives
Confidence;
Others, wariness and caution;
To still others
It makes the bricks of anxiety
Into a barrier
Of supreme difficulty.
Good leadership allows the follower
The opportunity
To follow at their own pace.
Lord, in your acceptance of Thomas,
Forgiveness of Peter,
Conversation with the two
Walking to Emmaus,
You reveal to us
How you accept our own discipleship.
Stumbling along
Or free running
We seek to follow you
And suddenly find you
By our side
Not disappearing
Out in front.
May the Easter Hope
Keep us faithful
Hold us steady
And point us to Glory,
For the sake of Jesus
Amen.
Reading: Philippians 1:3-26
StF 674 Would I have answered when you called come follow, follow me?
Prayers for May by Hazel Parsons
