More Than Us

Would you describe yourself as someone who needs forgiveness?

Do you think you need God?

Let us turn to God and ask His forgiveness because we all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.

For thinking too little about who You are and our need for You: Father, forgive us*.

At the start of this prayer, looking at the first two lines in light of their alternative, a life lived in a power grab, what resonates with you?

Forgiveness and our need of God are very different from living defended, offended, and thinking only of ourselves.

It’s hard sometimes to acknowledge our need for Someone outside of ourselves.

In a normal day, we can live either pinging from emotion to emotion or with a sense that our lives are being interfered with by someone else.

Or that God is not enough.

That, in fact, we need power to survive and thrive.

But this prayer, indeed, the entire compendium of the Bible, says otherwise.

Both say we need God.  We need forgiveness.  That our lives are not just about us. We need people.  Together in community. 

These are our relationships.  Both men and women.  In our work.  Our family.  Friends.  Boyfriends and girlfriends. Even the folks we rub shoulders with when we’re running our errands.

Every human life matters.

Who we are matters.

How we meet our needs matters.

Would you describe yourself as someone who needs forgiveness?  Do you think you need God?

Why, or why not?

*Adapted, Litany of Reconciliation. For the original visit https://www.coventrycathedral.org.uk/reconciliation/reconciliation-ministry/litany-of-reconciliation]