Thoughts for the Day

Happy are those whose transgression is forgiven,
whose sin is covered....

While I kept silence, my body wasted away
through my groaning all day long.
For day and night your hand was heavy upon me;
my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer.

Then I acknowledged my sin to you,
and I did not hide my iniquity;
I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the Lord’,
and you forgave the guilt of my sin.

Therefore let all who are faithful
offer prayer to you....

I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go;
I will counsel you with my eye upon you.
Do not be like a horse or a mule, without understanding,
whose temper must be curbed with bit and bridle,
else it will not stay near you.

Many are the torments of the wicked,
but steadfast love surrounds those who trust in the Lord.
Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, O righteous,
and shout for joy, all you upright in heart.

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

Are you good at procrastination? You know the kind of thing - that puts off what should be done today until tomorrow, or more likely what should be done today for another few weeks or months? Well I'm quite adept at doing this. On a personal level I can avoid making a phone call or an enquiry about something to do with tax, or insurance, or the car, for days and weeks. It's usually because I expect it to be a right fiddle to get through to the correct department, or because I dislike what the answer might be! Often though, when I make the effort it's all so simple and I wonder why I've been putting it off. I also recognise the fact that when I move house or a job there is always an enormous pile of paperwork still left in my in-tray! I never got to the bottom of it. I once knew an ex bank-manager-turned-priest who operated the "one-touch system" - in other words if you touched a letter or opened an email or text, then you dealt with it there and then! His desk top was completely empty! I have never managed it!

Psalm 32 reminds me of this. The writer (probably David) is consumed with guilt at his sin. He can't eat or sleep for thinking about what he has done. His guilt affects his mind, body and soul. His whole life is bound up with his transgressions, yet he puts off what he knows he should do until in the end he is forced to deal with it, and makes his confession to God. He hides nothing from God, and to his amazement God forgives him. In his joy he wants others to understand that God forgives our sin when it's sincerely offered, and he ends with the wonderful acclaim: "Shout for joy, all you upright in heart."

So don't put off confessing your sin to God for He will absolve those who sincerely repent and who try to make amends.

Heavenly Father,
often we are very good
at pushing our sin aside,
and pretending it's not important.
Sometimes though in the night
we cannot ignore the guilt,
and it affects our dreams.
Help us to be honest with ourselves
acknowledging what we have done,
and ask for forgiveness..
May we seek to make amends,
and continue to praise You.
Amen.