...in their sight.

         Ezekiel 12. 3-7

(This admonition is

repeated 7 times

   in the space of 5 verses.

When a phrase is repeated,

       take it to heart.

Live out your relationship

    with God --

His grace and forgiveness

   and love and goodness--

before others

            in their midst

that they would see

      and ask "Why?

What kind of person

            lives like that?"

And that they may see

    one who has been

   transformed by God.

One who has a new heart

bears a new operating system,

makes different decisions,

sees and responds

            self-lessly

because God's forgiveness

  and grace has changed them.)

O LORD,

You continually surround us

with opportunities to

love others right into Your kingdom.

Help others not

         to see us as different

      but to see You differently.

Life with You does not just

            look different

   but brings a new heart to it

and Your unexpected Presence.

May Your with-ness in us

   be a witness to others

that You are here

       and that You love them too.

Help us to live that way

        in their midst.