Tuesday, January 30, 2007

Make me whole again

Hear it! [Make me whole again MID]
See it! [Make me whole again PDF]


Lord to you I lift my wounds
my sickness and my sin
for I know, if it be your will
you can make me whole again
O Christ if you want to
you can make me whole again

Know, my child, I have heard your cry
your heart I cannot refuse
I will place my spirit in you
and your face I will renew
O child how I want to
and your face I will renew

The earth cries out for renewal and justice. The earth bears our sin and is our partner in wholeness. “For, creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children of God.” (Romans 8:19) Indeed, the earth groans in labor pains for us, even as the Spirit, like a skilled midwife, intercedes for us “with sighs too deep for words.”

The song “Make me whole again” was motivated by my reading of Psalm 104. God takes delight in creation and delights to care for all living beings on the face of the earth, in the sky, and in the waters below.

“These all look to you to give them their food in due season; when you give to them, they gather it up; when you open your hand, they are filled with good things.” (Psalm 104:27-28)

This is life as we would hope it to be. However, death is also in God’s hand.

“When you hide your face, they are dismayed; when you take away their breath, they die and return to their dust.” (v. 29)

So we find ourselves broken, dependent, in need. Earth, too, is carved up and scarred by our restless actions. What we need, however, is not merely the goods of this earth, the goods we clamor for in this world and kill each other to have. No, what we long for and most truly need is the breath of God.

“When you send forth your spirit, they are created; and you renew the face of the earth.” (v. 30)

I take this as a promise. God says to us and all creation, I will send forth my spirit to enliven you, and your face I will renew.

Renewal is God’s justice, a creative justice that restores, heals and uplifts our face.

I can trust this God who creates. Without shame, I can lift my wounds, my sickness and my sin to Christ, my Lord and Midwife. One little breath and I shall be radiant.

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