Spirit of the Living God...

I hope this writing brings some comfort or some clarity or just provokes thoughts in a reader's heart.

It is, for me, in the lessons of life that I rediscover anew the need to surrender - not in failure, but in reverence - to the Power that is greater than I.

"Spirit of the Living God"
Daniel Iverson

Spirit of the living God, Fall afresh on me. Melt me, mold me, fill me, use me.

Spirit of the living God, Fall afresh on me.

The worst of all offenses, to me, are not measured just by the seriousness of what, who, when, where, why....but in the abandoning.

As a CASA in my state, I see a lot of abandoning....one of the most scorching of all the burning hurts of life.

It hurts everyone...the one burned, all the witnesses, all the relatives, all the peace and trust of life.  

The words of this very reflective little hymn are so succinctly full of story telling.  The characters, you and I.  The stage, universal from between both poles and in all seasons.  The setting, always within the heart.  

We are broken...cracked by some who are mean or perhaps ignorant.  Or we are completely deconstructed...laying in many pieces - a heap of useless clay.

But for those who KNOW there is a power greater than themselves, there is also HOPE!  And that hope is grounded in the realization that we will not be glued back together, but the potter will take fresh clay from the earth and mold us again, being very careful that we are formed, fired, and glazed just rightly for our purpose.

God will then pour himself into us, there are no cracks to be seen...all the seams of the vessel are solid; the lip of the vessel is smooth and perfectly formed; the capacity of the vessel exactly perfect for its intended task.

How beautiful the vessel!  Perhaps beautiful in its simplicity and natural condition.  Or, perhaps beautiful because it is handed off to an artist who weaves and blends the colors chosen.  

Whatever it's appearance, it will be strong and useful, fully intended for a purpose.

Melt me; mold me; fill me; use me.

It is all we can say...all we can do...the only recourse we have after human life has failed us; broken us; abandoned us.

God, my Creator...make something yet more of the ongoing of my life.  More Lovely.

Amen