If things are going to be different....

 

Put away the foreign gods

   that are among you

and purify yourselves

and change your garments.

               Genesis 35. 2

(If things are going to be different,

      something has to change.

      And that would be our hearts.

If we are going to follow God  

   and not trip over idols,

we need to clean house,

not moving our affections about

   like so much baggage,

but get rid of those 

          precious things (plural)

  that distract or attract us

              away from God,

those innocent little g gods 

  we secretly or blatantly worship

  in place of the Almighty.

Then, wash our hands of them.

   And change our clothes.

Who or what we worship

     is evident to others

   as much as what we wear.

As James K. A. Smith says,

   "We are what we love."

Are we even aware of

  the algorithms that govern us?)

O LORD,

Make us sensitive today

   not just of Your Presence,

but what we are

          tripping over.

Help us to recognize

         our loves.

May our love for You

   change everything about us

in what we choose,

in how we treat others,

     even in our attitudes.

Help us to change our garments

   that we would be

       a witness to others

of Whom we worship.