march 11, 2021 (thurs in the third week of lent)

For today's readings, click HERE.

by Marion Hunner

Reading today’s scripture, I am reminded of a Lent when my kids were young. Our Lenten practice that year was to read from their Story Bible each night. We had the perfect Story Bible, because each one was just two pages long (fairly large print, with pictures!). We surely missed some of the nuances of the actual scripture, but it gave us a great big picture view.

What we, as a family, took away from that Lenten practice, is that over and over again, God’s people turned away from God. Yet God was always there. God never gave up, and God is still there for us today. Even when we turn away, or we don’t listen, or we don’t pay attention. God is still there, wanting to be in relationship with us. One of the most important ideas that I tried to instill in my children when they were growing up is that our mistakes do not define us – what we do about those mistakes is what defines us. How do we move forward? Do we ask forgiveness? Do we try to right our wrongs? Do we turn back? Because God is always there, welcoming our return.

​Back in January we had a reading from Isaiah, “Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. God does not faint or grow weary;” I love the image that God does not grow weary, that no matter how many times we turn away, God is waiting for us to turn back.

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