Dismally Inadequate

Nehemiah 9:1-3, “On the twenty-fourth day of the same month, the Israelites gathered together, fasting and wearing sackcloth and putting dust on their heads.  Those of Israelite descent had separated themselves from all foreigners. They stood in their places and confessed their sins and the sins of their ancestors.  They stood where they were and read from the Book of the Law of the Lord their God for a quarter of the day, and spent another quarter in confession and in worshiping the Lord their God” (NIV).

I want to admit, up front, that I am currently sitting at a picnic table in the middle of a hallway at the Indiana Convention Center, and there are hoards of people milling around (because… clearly… I must have chosen the exact moment at which the workshop schedule broke to try to write this…)

But it’s pulling at my heartstrings just a little bit…  Maybe because there are so many of us gathered together… Maybe because we’re going to read Scripture and join together in worship… Maybe because I fear we are still dismally inadequate at confession, even though it matters as much as the rest of this.

Introspection… reflection… community…

It remains to be seen if there is space for that kind of balance, this week.  But I hope so.  Because, right now, it’s kind of loud…

L.