The Old and the New

For my write-up today on church, I'll quote the Prayer of Confession from the liturgy:

"O God of laughter and tears, we come in this Lenten season weighed down by the past. Sometimes we feel trapped by past actions, past attitudes, past beliefs. We feel as if we are wandering in a desert, carrying burdens, losing our way. Sometimes we hold fast to this past, hold fast to our prejudices and our fears. We criticize, we judge, we despair, we doubt our ability to change. Break open our hearts, pour in your transforming and renewing love. Keep our eyes on the prize----new life in You. Amen."