As your people, Gracious and Loving God,
We find ourselves offered
Pardon,
Unconditional love,
Grace –
But how often do we truly receive it?
Or, allow others to understand
It is there for them too?
Sometimes we reach out
Grab what you have to offer
And squirrel it away for a rainy day;
Other times we take it warily
Sure that there is a catch;
Still other times we turn away
Unable to accept
The reality of your promises.
And all you ask is that we share:
Forgive as we have been forgiven;
Encourage as we have been encouraged;
Feed as we have been fed;
Reach out a hand
As your hand has reached out to us;
Smile as you have smiled on us…….
And,
yes, there is an ‘And’,
Speak your name,
That others in receiving of you through us
May receive directly
And thus pass on the offering to others.
But, first, yes first,
We have to accept from you.
Accept that we are loved,
Accept that you have no favourites!
Accept that you are always looking
Searching
Seeking
For all
Yes, all,
Even the most unlikely,
In fact,
Often the most unlikely!
Like this small thrush
We have to overcome our wariness of you,
Settle on the hand stretched out before us,
Take the proffered food
Gain confidence,
Even turn our backs
Secure that you will not reach out to capture
And restrain us
But only warm our hearts and set us free.
So, Father, as my heart filled with such
Joy
At the trust of that small thrush,
I know your heart fills with song
As I renew my trust in you.
Give us the longing
To drop our guard in your divine presence
To remove our protective shell
And come before you
Humbly, trustingly and lovingly
For Jesus’ sake
Amen
Reading: John 21:15-19
StF 462 Come with me, come wander
Prayers for June by Hazel Parsons
