Wednesday, April 5, 2017

Dear God,

This morning I read a devotion by Joyce Rupp who spoke of the ritual of forgiveness.  She challenged the reader to pick up a stone and hold it in our hand.  Then she offered the story of the woman caught in adultery where the punishment was stoning.  After pausing for reflection she urged us to consider stones thrown at us, times when we threw stones at others, and how Jesus' mercy was given.  I thought too of my own guilt and my hurt and anger at stones thrown at me but more than these I focused on the mercy of Jesus.

Funny thing when the author recommended we imagine a stone, immediately I thought of the heart stone I picked up at the beach.  As I held it in my hand, I realized how your mercy pours over us all, those wounded by the stone's throw and those who throw. 

Merciful God,
how great
is your love.
You give mercy
to us all,
calling us
to be full
of mercy ourselves.
Teach us
the way
of mercy,
O Lord,
I pray.
Thank you
for the
countless gifts
of mercy given.

Love, Andrea