A Concord Pastor Comments: Monday Morning Offering: 1/12

Good morning, good God!

I come to you in a season of grays,
the charcoaled landscape of my days,
etched with the chill of long winter nights...

I offer you this ordinary time,
this wintry season waiting
for that Ashen Wednesday
coming soon with Lent's relief
in purpled shades...

I offer you this season in-between:
in-between the holly and the palm...

So much of life is in-between:
in-between the days gone by
   and all the days that lie ahead;
in-between the old and new,
   twixt hope and disappointment,
   expectation and fulfillment...

In-between the ups and downs:
   the sadness and the joy,
   the laughter and the tears...

In-between what’s not yet done
and what can't yet be known...

Give me patience with the past, Lord,
and hope for all that's yet to come...

I offer you my day, Lord,
this day that's in-between,
in a season in-between:
I offer you my day,

the day I have to give...

Help me keep it in today, Lord:

give me serenity to accept
   the things I cannot change,
courage to change
   the many things I can
and wisdom, blessed wisdom,
   to help me know the difference…

Give me the grace today
to meet all those who cross my path
as I'd have them meet me:
with patience and with peace….

I come to you in a season of grays,
the charcoaled landscape of my days,
etched with the chill of long winter nights...

I offer you this ordinary time,
this wintry season waiting

for that Ashen Wednesday
coming soon with Lent's relief

in purpled shades...

I offer you this season in-between, Lord,
in-between the holly and the palm...

I offer you the in-between

and pray you'll meet me there...

Amen.