An air conditioning repair truck pulled into the parking lot.
“Well, I’ve got to go,” Vern said. “Say, I’ve got an idea. I can let
you in the sanctuary to look around while I get the repairs started.
Would you like that?”
“Sure,” Brian said. “Thanks.”
The sanctuary was dark except for an eerie green glow caused
by sunlight filtered through stained glass windows. He walked directly
to the pew where his family sat for as long as he could remember
and knelt with his head bowed. His prayer was simple.
“Help me, Lord.”
Soon, the peace he’d felt in the car returned. He looked around
the holy place and wondered why he’d stayed away so long. The
corner of a bulletin stuck behind a hymnal grabbed his attention.
He pulled it out and examined it. The service hadn’t changed much
over the years. His eyes stopped on the Confession of Sins. He
started to read, but lowered the bulletin into his lap and closed his
eyes, reciting it from memory.
Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against You in
thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved You with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of Your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in Your will, and walk in Your ways, to the glory of Your Name. Amen.
The words he remembered from years past became his own
today—his confession and plea for forgiveness.
E-Mail from Peg:
ReplyDeletethe wonderful gift of memory that we all carry inside..