God Mend Thy Every Flaw

My husband loves to watch the Sunday morning news shows while we get ready for church. Sometimes, I get drawn into the conversation. This morning the emphasis was on the Tea Party movement and other conservative groups. At one of the rallies they were singing "America."

I dream of a day when I will preach about Katherine Bates who wrote the lyrics to this favorite hymn. I especially like the verse which prays, "God mend thy every flaw." Katherine was a lesbian. Most conservatives, if they knew this, would fall off the podium.

Imagine a world with no homosexuals. Some of our favorite music, literature, films, and scientific discoveries would disappear. More to the point friends, doctors, sisters, cousins, brothers, nurses, CEOs, teachers, military, would be no more. I do not want to live in this world without my friends and family whom I love. I don't want to live in this world in which many of the brightest and best would cease to be. Like Katherine Bates, I pray for God to mend our flaws.

Blessings, Karen

Waking in the dark

I seem to be on the "child" schedule. I am sleepy in the evening, going to bed earlier and earlier and waking before the dawn. I feed the impatient cats who do not understand that the dark world is dangerous and they must wait for the light to go out.

Once I was a "night owl." Convinced I did my best work after ten at night, I would work well past midnight. My internal clock is shifting and now I find myself more clear headed in the early morning hours. The blessing to this is that I can rise with the cats and the dog and while drinking a sweet cup of coffee, I can say my prayers in the silence. I never realized how peaceful the hours before dawn are.

Whatever your schedule, I hope that you find a quiet place to pray, to reflect on scripture and more than that to sit and let God love you. To do nothing but feel God's generous love enveloping you. We are too busy. We are too active. We feel compelled to do do do. Sometimes we need to just sit and feel God's love. Absorb the grace and peace, recharge our batteries, and reweave our connections with God.

I pray you may have a blessed day. May you see Christ in all the people you meet today. May you be surprised by God.

Blessings, Karen