Morning Prayer November 27, 2013

Mercy of Mercies, there is comfort in the calcified routine - not the one that stays the same and brings us to new awakening and awareness as we meet the familiar with fresh awakening - but the routine so hardened we rush through as though our life were an overflow of water diverted down a storm channel. There is comfort in that kind of routine because then we need not be overwhelmed, or feel much at all, except the hurry and scurry to reach the end. Mercy of Mercies let us not live like that. Help us meet each day with newness of spirit, with surprising joy, with a gladness to dance with wonderment and an ability to find that in the stuff of each day. Let us meet one another with the softness of moss welcoming a weary traveller after a long journey. Let us spring up with fresh love sustained by a huge unseen network of faith and kindness and generous laughter that lets us live fruiting one loving act after another. Once our hearts harden, Mercy of Mercies, you know how difficult it is to return them to supple warmth so that suspicion is not our first or second or third or thirtieth response, so that our first inclination is to help however we can and if a way to care is not immediately apparent to still find a way to do so. Mercies of Mercy lead us away from hardened hearts and let us be courageous enough to be warm and caring all our days, to live vulnerably, to lean into the difficult places and offer one another comfort, help, and hope. Mercy of Mercies help us live like that, resilient, welcoming, caring, and daring to love whatever  storms may come, whatever troubles we may meet, grateful and glad for this life. Amen.