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Create in me a pure heart, O God…

I am writing this reflection on Ash Wednesday afternoon. We have some volunteers covering the prayer stations in the sanctuary and our “Ashes-to-Go” station in front of the church, so I am taking a few minutes to write. We have had a steady flow of people visiting with us today, so I am grateful for a few minutes of quiet time in my office!

So far, it has been a day filled with great conversations, meaningful times of prayer and seeing Jesus in the eyes of many new people. There is a cruise ship in town and, of course, many people are here on vacation as well as for the season. Some of these out-of-towners, as well as many locals, have joined us for a few moments or actually spent some significant time walking through our prayer stations or sitting in the sanctuary to pray. We have been truly blessed by our visitors!

There was one disturbing thing that happened today. We were a bit short-handed in the sanctuary for a while this morning. I was busy with a bunch of visitors up front near the altar for 10-15 minutes when Lee arrived to take over for me. I walked to the back of the sanctuary and noticed that the money that was in the offering plate was gone. At first I thought Heather might have taken it out and put it in the safe. But no, she hadn't. Yes, someone took it! I don't think there was a lot, but there definitely had been some money in that plate.

I found myself feeling angry! Why would someone do such a thing? And then I progressed to the trite and cliche thought, "Well, they must have needed it more than we did." But then I got angry again! So, I took a deep breath and sat in silence for a few moments. In that silence, I heard God say these words from Psalm 51, "Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me." I started to remember what Ash Wednesday and Lent are all about: recognizing our own brokenness, repenting and seeking the face of Jesus. So, if I am going to recognize my own sins and ask for forgiveness, then I must also acknowledge the sins of others and pour forgiveness out upon them, even as I pray for them to acknowledge their mistakes and seek to repent.

This is the opportunity we are offered during Lent: to recognize the brokenness of others and within ourselves so that God may create in all of us a clean heart. Lent is an opportunity for vulnerability, self-examination and forgiveness that leads to new life! So, I am trying to recognize that what this person did (taking the offering money) was wrong, and then remember that if Jesus forgives, then I must forgive also. It's that simple.

1 Have mercy on me, O God,

    according to your unfailing love;

according to your great compassion

    blot out my transgressions.

2 Wash away all my iniquity

    and cleanse me from my sin.

3  For I know my transgressions,

    and my sin is always before me. (Psalm 51:1-3)

 

Grace and Peace

-Pastor Madeline

 

P.S. I did move the offering plate up front where we could keep an eye on it!