THE WORLD NEEDS MORE OF THESE
Little boys using glove-covered
hands to build a cool snow fort
directly on the edge of the long
sled run on a sixty-degree Sunday
in late February.
One involved father with his son
(who knows not that he’s so young)
demonstrating great skill in ice skating
both forward and in reverse
without a fall either way.
The World Needs More of These
This teenage girl with black hair
streaked with burgundy creatively
toughs out feet hurting so, so
badly, because she loves to skate!
Two sweet friends sledding in
the somewhat slushy snow that
made it slow, but cheering one
another on to go the furthest.
The World Needs More of These
Psalm 51
(Common English Bible)
For the music leader. A psalm of David, when the prophet Nathan came to him just after he had been with Bathsheba.
51 Have mercy on me, God, according to your faithful love! Wipe away my wrongdoings according to your great compassion!
2 Wash me completely clean of my guilt; purify me from my sin!
3 Because I know my wrongdoings, my sin is always right in front of me.
4 I’ve sinned against you—you alone. I’ve committed evil in your sight. That’s why you are justified when you render your verdict, completely correct when you issue your judgment.
14 Deliver me from violence, God, God of my salvation, so that my tongue can sing of your righteousness.
15 Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will proclaim your praise.
16 You don’t want sacrifices. If I gave an entirely burned offering, you wouldn’t be pleased.
17 A broken spirit is my sacrifice, God. You won’t despise a heart, God, that is broken and crushed.
Ceaseless Prayer
It’s been a difficult week. Since the country of Ukraine has been attacked and is at war, I find myself focusing on the sins of one “leader.” It feels so much better than dwelling on faults of my own, including the things that I’ve done to harm others without thinking. The thoughts I’ve harbored against those I disagree with. It doesn’t make me feel good to think about the times I’ve spoken ill of others and may have caused them to feel badly about themselves.
There are no words to express how painful it is to hear the accounts of the invasion. Instead, we join the wave of ceaseless prayer flowing from the hearts of humans across the world. In repentance we pray for the ways we have separated ourselves from God as members of the global community and in individual relationships.
And then we remember that humans are intrinsically good. After all, we are created in the image of God. Be thankful for the ways we have cared for the sick and elderly, the ways we’ve been kind and stopped to listen to a child or teenager. Remember how we’ve taken care of the earth itself and strive to do better.
We pray that the pressure cooker of insane leaders would be released and young people all over the world might once again take up a sled, a pair of skates, or a bicycle, to be immersed in the joy of the moment once again…because life is worth it.
The season of Lent is made for humanity. We need a time of wandering. While meandering, we intentionally turn away from all that separates us from God and live in the moment. We really are worthy people trying to do better.
Repent and believe in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Marta
Rev. Marta Wheeler
To view or download a PDF version of this devotional, click here: Devotional MW 2022-03-02