CREATE IN ME A CLEAN HEART
I have read and sung and prayed this phrase over and over again for years. As I did some reading this morning and reflecting I realize that it really says it all. Beginning with the word - CREATE.
What that reminds me of is God is at work and God's work is creation and recreation. And it also reminds me that a clean heart is not something I can do on my own. I need a source that is greater than me.
It also reminds me that I don't have a clean heart. I always like this story by Anthony de Mello from The Song of the Bird:
A preacher put this question to a class of children: "If all the good people were white and all the bad people were black, what color would you be?"
Little Mary Jane replied, "Reverend, I'd be streaky!"
So would the preacher. So would the mahatmas, popes, and saints.
Little Mary Jane replied, "Reverend, I'd be streaky!"
So would the preacher. So would the mahatmas, popes, and saints.
++++++
The difference between Little Mary Jane and most of us is that we don't easily acknowledge our streakiness. Often the Dark Night of the Soul comes as we face the ways in which we have hurt others, ourselves and God. We can go a long time in denial and defensiveness before we acknowledge certain aspects of our sinfulness.
Psalm 51 is supposedly David's realization of the depth of his sin in his adultery with Bathsheba and all of its consequences. Praying this Psalm - really praying it - is not for the faint of heart. But it is appropriate for the beginning of Lent and for any of us who take seriously the transforming work that God can do within our souls and our lives which will ultimately affect the world.
So today is a day for me to spend time with these words - "CREATE IN ME A CLEAN HEART" and trust in the mystery of God's grace, mercy and recreation.
Here is a wonderful poem I found online about this Psalm. by Sylvia Purdie from Christchurch, New Zealand.
Psalm
51: Standing under the shower of Confession
The most lovely of Psalms, number 51,
but how do we get to verse 1?
What needs to happen in us before we can begin?
because us silly people tend to be much more
comfortable hiding
under umbrellas of self justification.
O crap. things have gone bad.
It’s not my fault!
If only he wasn’t so arrogant
she needs to sort her shit out
you change, not me!
The last thing we want to do
is recognize our rebellion.
How do we train ourselves to bring
honesty to our God
to peel back the layers of pride?
We quite like our own dirt
do we want to be washed clean?
This Psalm, of all Psalms,
takes the most guts to read
but you can do it!
Like a child shoved under the shower
Take a deep breath and begin –
Have mercy on me, O God …
The most lovely of Psalms, number 51,
but how do we get to verse 1?
What needs to happen in us before we can begin?
because us silly people tend to be much more
comfortable hiding
under umbrellas of self justification.
O crap. things have gone bad.
It’s not my fault!
If only he wasn’t so arrogant
she needs to sort her shit out
you change, not me!
The last thing we want to do
is recognize our rebellion.
How do we train ourselves to bring
honesty to our God
to peel back the layers of pride?
We quite like our own dirt
do we want to be washed clean?
This Psalm, of all Psalms,
takes the most guts to read
but you can do it!
Like a child shoved under the shower
Take a deep breath and begin –
Have mercy on me, O God …
CREATE IN ME A NEW HEART, O GOD
Amen
No comments:
Post a Comment