Dear blogosphere friends;
You may officially call off the search. I have decided it is time to come forward and confess.
I know most of you have been searching high and low in a relentless effort to figure out who to blame for the hot, steaming mess that 2020 has been so far.
Well, search no further because it is ME.
At least I’m pretty sure I’m to blame.
You see, at the beginning of this year I was given an assignment; an assignment I failed to fulfill. And so, as a result, here we are… crumpled up and flaming at the end of the tarmac, just like an airplane that tried to take off and tragically failed to gain any lift.
That assignment?
It’s spelled out right there in black and white. Right there in John’s gospel, chapter 15, verse 12 I was told, in no uncertain terms, “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.”
And I blew it.
This year I have been angry. I have been petty. I have blamed others for the shortcomings in my life and in the world around me. I have held grudges. I have failed to reach out to sisters and brothers in need. I have looked for excuses instead of opportunities. I have judged. I have pouted. I have fostered discord. I have withheld forgiveness.
I have told God I am sorry, but I wanted to tell you, too.
I don’t know if there is enough time left in this year to turn things around, but what the heck…
… I once read somewhere that, “… with God, all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26, NRSV).
I sure hope so!
Abundant blessings;
Russellings of the Spirit 
Wow, and here I thought you had just failed to keep a chain letter going…
If this is how it works, it could be that it’s the fault of the collective Church … 😟
And here I thought it was MY fault! My litany of shortcomings may be a little different than yours, Rev. Russ, but every bit as sinful. Praise God He removes our sins as far as the east is from the west! And I pray He WILL answer our prayers and turn some things around before 12-31-20. (P.S. ‘Love the way you tuck important truth into humor!)
Thank you. What I neglected to include, of course, is that ALL of us were given that same, “Love one another” assignment and ALL of us have fallen short in fulfilling it. Thank God for his Amazing Grace and Forgiveness though, right?
Yes! We need the God of the impossible to clean up this big, stinky mess.