Rev. Diane Rollert, 17 September 2017

Glorious day.
The golden sunlight rising into clarity.
A moment of summer warmth
Before the days shorten
And the cold descends.
This is a day for returning to the source.
For remembering the sweetness of life
For asking ourselves and each other
For forgiveness
for all the wrongs of the past year.

Even we, who are so sure of ourselves,
We have our silent regrets.
Even we, who are so unsure of ourselves,
We need release from all that weighs too heavily upon us.

Oh source of life,
Can we hear each other?
Can we empty ourselves enough
To create space for the views of another?
Can we be just a little less proud
And let go of the insistence that what we think
And know is universal?

Can we allow ourselves be touched by the words of another?
Can we set aside the wounds and the anger
That cloud our judgment?
Can we let go of shame, guilt and fear?
Can we let go of our need to be right?
Can we find what truly matters to us in our heart of hearts?
To be honest in our regrets,
To find patience,
To find understanding,
To love ourselves, to love each other,
To love the world again.

In this changing season
May we grant ourselves the permission
to let go and begin again.