How would your life change
if you were willing to accept
that expressing your worst self
is a vital part of what you do
every day?
If you acknowledged to yourself
“I am most prone to disappoint God when…”
what could change?
What if you discovered
that you were ready to let go
of those beliefs and behaviors
that no longer serve you
(and hurt both you and others)?
Might you be readying yourself
to give up something you value?
Honesty
precedes
release.
What are you willing to know
about who you have been?
Who do you hope
through the grace and help of God
to become?
Are you willing to pay the costs
of confession:
sincerity,
truthfulness,
integrity?
Acceptance
can be very painful.
It can also be liberating.
Are you willing
to step towards freedom?
The way is steep,
unknown,
perhaps even dangerous.
What
will you give up?
Please do not copy any part of this poem without written permission.
1 John 1: 8-10 (NRSV)
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, God who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make God a liar, and God’s word is not in us.
Mini-pilgrimage
On the way to Compostela, there is a place where pilgrims are invited to leave a stone they have brought from home. This symbolic act of release is often cited as one of the most meaningful moments of the pilgrimage.
Begin to wonder, “What might I be moving towards letting go?”
When you know, find a small stone or other momento that will serve to remind you of your intention. Carry it with you for at least four weeks.
After that, create a ritual of release that will signify your commitment.
Share your decision with at least one person that you trust.