…Opening To…

For me, kind Jesus, was thy incarnation, thy mortal sorrow, and thy life’s oblation; thy death of anguish and thy bitter passion, for my salvation. Therefore, kind Jesus, since I cannot pay thee, I do adore thee, and will ever pray thee, think on thy pity and thy love unswerving, not my deserving. (Johann Heermann, from The Hymnal 1982)

…Listening In…

But I am like a green olive tree in God’s house; I trust in God’s faithful love forever and always. I will give thanks to you, God, forever, because you have acted. In the presence of your faithful people, I will hope in your name because it’s so good. (Psalm 52:8-9; context)

…Filling Up…

This Lent, we are exploring our faith by running through the alphabet. Today, “T” is for trust. In how many different pieces of our experience do we encounter this word? Of the top of my, I can think of a couple. It’s on American money: “In God we trust.” Disney’s Aladdin says it to Jasmine when they are running from the guards and again when she is hesitant to get on the magic carpet: “Do you trust me?” It’s the first part of the first trait mentioned in the Boy Scout law: “A scout is trustworthy…” It’s used in banking – one can set up a “trust,” which gives rise to the caricature of the spoiled “trust fund baby.”

In our society, the word “trust” runs the gamut. But what does it really mean, and what does it mean in the context of following Jesus Christ?” Trust is the closest synonym for “faith” that the English language can provide. “Confidence” is a close second. Trust happens when you jump into your father’s arms from the top bunk. Trust happens when you let go of the steadying shoulder the first time you venture into the deep end. Trust happens when you give your keys to your teenager for the first time.

There are no guarantees with trust. Trust happens in the absence of guarantees. Rather, trust is the name for the energy and the courage necessary to believe. I believe that God will never betray my trust. I believe that God is trustworthy. And I also believe that God helps me have trust – that is, faith – precisely because God trusts me. God trusts me to be the person God made me to be, a person who struggles to believe, but in the struggle finds belief. Finds trust. Finds faith.

And in trusting God, we can love God. And in loving God, we can serve.

…Praying For…

Dear God, you have never broken your trust and I believe you never will. Help me to live my life with the confidence that comes from knowing that you are trustworthy. In Jesus Christ’s name I pray. Amen.

…Sending Out…

I leave this moment with you, God, counting myself blessed that you would choose to make me the person I am and love me into the person I am becoming.