Inspired by lyrics to Karen Taylor Good’s ”Work of Art” —
“I know somewhere, not so deep inside of me, lives that perfect soul that I was meant to be.”
My life is a labor of love as I work at learning self-worth and unconditional love of others.
Fear and doubt fade away as my true self emerges.
“Let me be the way I was created. Let me find a pure and simple heart.
I’ll chip away all that is not the Truth about me and reveal God’s perfect work of art.”
Responsive Reading for Sunday, Sept 2
"A man had two sons . . . the younger son collected all his belongings and set off to a distant country . . . . When he had freely spent everything, a severe famine struck that country, and he found himself in dire need. So he hired himself out to one of the local citizens who sent him to his farm to tend the swine . . . . Coming to his senses he thought, 'How many of my father's hired workers have more than enough food to eat, but here am I, dying from hunger. I shall get up and go to my father and I shall say to him, ‘Father . . . treat me as you would treat one of your hired workers’" (Lk. 15:11-19).
“I know somewhere, not so deep inside of me, lives that perfect soul that I was meant to be.”
The younger son headed home. “While he was still a long way off, his father caught sight of him, and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him. His son said to him, 'Father,… I no longer deserve to be called your son.' But his father ordered his servants, 'Quickly bring the finest robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet . . . . Then let us celebrate with a feast, because this son of mine …and has come to life again; he was lost, and has been found.' Then the celebration began” (Lk. 15:20-24).
My life is a labor of love as I work at learning self-worth and unconditional love of others.
“Now the older son had been out in the field and, on his way back, as he neared the house, he heard the sound of music and dancing. He called one of the servants and asked what this might mean. The servant said to him, 'Your brother has returned and your father has [called for a feast]…because he has him back safe and sound.' He became angry, and when he refused to enter the house, his father came out and pleaded with him. He said to his father in reply, 'Look, all these years I served you and not once did I disobey your orders; yet you never gave me …a …feast…with my friends….’ He said to him, 'My son, you are here with me always; everything I have is yours…. now we must celebrate and rejoice” (Lk.15:25-32).
Fear and doubt fade away as my true self emerges.
In the Torah, the story is told of how the artisans who maintained the house of worship were well paid from love offerings: “The amount thus realized they turned over to the master workmen in the temple of the LORD. They in turn would give it to the carpenters and builders working in the temple of the LORD, and to the lumbermen and stone cutters, and for the purchase of the wood and hewn stone used in repairing the breaches, and for any other expenses that were necessary to repair the temple . . . because they held positions of trust” (II Kings 12:12-16).
“Let me be the way I was created. Let me find a pure and simple heart.
I’ll chip away all that is not the Truth about me and reveal God’s perfect work of art.”