Monday Morning Offering: 3/16

Good morning, good God!

So, Lent’s half over, Lord,

    and Easter's only three weeks away...

I should be at least half-prepared,

    half-ready to celebrate Easter

        - but I’m not!

Back on Ash Wednesday I was doing OK,

    right up 'til, oh,

        maybe the First Sunday of Lent.

 

(I know, Lord - that was only 4 days!)

So, I offer you my sketchy record here

    and ask you to forgive my unkept Lenten pledges…

I acknowledge my lack of self-discipline

    - and how I excuse myself so easily...

So many promises, Lord,

    made with firm intentions,

        but all too often a real FAIL in follow-through…

I confess my laziness,

    hoping you'll forgive me

and accept my renewed pledge

    to pray more often,

    to sacrifice some things I crave

    and to reach out to the poor…

And this time, Lord,

    let me not try to do this on my own

but rather 

    to depend and lean on you...

Be with me, Lord,

    and be my strength in every temptation,

especially when I'm tempted

    to give up on Lent,

    on you

    or on me...

• When I put off prayer,

    draw me to a quiet place

        and sit me down to be with you,

    to speak with you

        and rest, calmly, in your presence…

• When I’m tempted to indulge myself

    on what I’ve given up for Lent

        (or on anything else, for that matter!)

    remind me of my pledge and the reason for it:

        to empty out my fullness 

    and to learn from hunger

        what truly feeds my mind and heart...

• When I spend first on myself

    and consume more than I need.

   show me how much I already have

      (and where and how I have too much)

    and help me be more generous

        to those with ittle or nothing at all…

And if I’ve failed from the very beginning

    to pray and fast and sacrifice,

let today be my “Ash Sunday,”

    "day one" of Lent for me:

this day's the day that you’ve made, Lord,

    a day for me to grow in your mercy and your grace...

Lord, I offer you my renewed Lenten pledge:

    strengthen my resolve,

    deepen my commitment

    and keep me faithful to you

        as I prepare for Easter

            and the peace you offer me...

Amen.

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