...a blessing

   in the midst of the earth.

          Isaiah 19. 24

(Why am I in the

    middle of this mess,

this disordered chaos,

this miry bog?

Not to sink in toxic despair,

but hold forth

           a healing tonic,

to be a blessing

     in the midst of it,

to bring grace

       and restoration

in whatever unexpected

    way God reveals.

Not if I should respond,

          but how to carry

    blessing into it.

Grace and kindness

   are never insignificant,

never neutral

            never forgotten.)

O LORD,

You have strategically placed

each one of us

for Your extraordinary purposes

     in the midst of the ordinary,

even point blank

   in the middle of trouble

   and chaos

   and despair.

That we may know,

   and others may see,

You are sovereign,

You do not just show up,

   but You are already here.

Your steadfast love

  and strength

            embrace us.

Even here.

Even in this.

Help us to be

   a blessing today.