God, our God,
you have called us to be a people
on the move;
travelling light,
dying to live,
ready to lose ourselves for the sake of the world.
You have called us to be a people
with a purpose;
travelling without a map,
travelling to where we are led,
sustained by your Spirit,
committed to the gospel for the hope of the world.
Move us on our journey
from where we are to where you want us to go.
Open our eyes on the way
to the people of different cultures, continents and countries,
who can bring color to our lives.
Take us on our journey
from where we are to what you want us to be;
so that we become a community
where all are welcomed and no one is excluded,
all are valued and no one is made to feel inadequate,
all are forgiven and no one is ashamed to belong,
all are encouraged and no one is too hurt to come among us.
Lead us on our journey
from who we are to who you want us to be;
so that patience is built into us,
kindness is assumed in us,
gentleness is part of us,
compassion flows from us,
truth is second nature to us,
and the commitment of love is part of us.
Let us go gladly on the journey towards Easter –
the journey towards death and resurrection.
Let us journey in the peace and power of the Spirit.
~ by Ruth Harvey/Iona
During Advent I prayed a daily prayer, with the hope that I would remain focused on the season of waiting. This Lent I hope to do the same and pray the prayer by Ruth Harvey daily (Even though I am sure there will be days, just like during Advent, that I forget!). In sharing this prayer my hope is that you will be encouraged, and may even incorporate it into your Lenten reflections.
This year I will have the honour of spending the majority of Lent and Easter on Iona. Three weeks from today I will make the journey from Glasgow to Iona by train, ferry and bus. As I walk towards my time on Iona, and to towards the cross of Christ, I strive to live out the calling God has placed on my life. The calling to be the person God created me to be. To live into my identity in Christ, and discover more of this identity as I grow.
May you be richly blessed during this season, know that you are valued, and discover more of who you are created to be.
