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| Image: George Mendoza |
I want,
actually I need, Lord,
for this to be a good Lent
- even a great Lent...
I need a new beginning,
a fresh start with you, Lord:
I need your help
to turn my heart around,
to head in a new direction
and to walk, always, by your side...
It's time for me to take a spiritual inventory:
to count my sins
and number your countless mercies....
I want to know the refreshment
of truly being at peace with you, my God...
You offer me this time of grace, Lord,
a season my heart so dearly needs:
40 days of your compassion,
understanding and forgiveness...
As you know so well, Lord,
I've been here so many, many times before...
As with my New Year's resolutions,
so my Lenten promises often fade away
- sometimes before Wednesday's ashes
are brushed from my brow...
Keep me modest in my promises
that this Lent I might, at last, be faithful -
even if only in a few small things...
And should I stumble and fail,
actually - when I stumble and fail, Lord,
I pray your Spirit will pick me up, dust me off,
and set me back on the path I pledged...
I offer you my ego, Lord,
and pray I take no pride in being faithful this Lent:
humble me with the power of your grace
and sustain in me what I can't do alone:
help me remember that without you
I can do nothing...
I offer you the 40 days ahead, Lord,
and pray you help me live this season
just one day at a time...
Help me to pray, a day at a time...
Help me to sacrifice, a day at a time...
Help me to be generous, a day at a time...
Walk with me this Lent, Lord,
and remind me each day
that this season is first my offering to you,
and then a grace for me
that my faith in you might grow...
Walk this Lenten path with me, Lord,
from Ash Wednesday to Easter Sunday...
One day at a time, Lord:
you and me and your people,
in the grace of your Spirit,
one good day at a time...
Amen.
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