"Call to Worship"

by Laura Ferris

God did a good job when he made you.

He looked upon you and said, "good, I'm glad you could make it. I missed you." You went away, you see, because you were ashamed.

You were ashamed of the way you twitch your nose when you sneeze, but God missed that.

You were ashamed of the way you love the things you don't understand, even though you claim to, and God missed that too.

You were ashamed of the everyday you, and God missed that most of all.

God missed you so much he came to find you again. He came to your house, where you live, and you thought him strange, even scary. Who is this crazy man outside my house? you wanted to know.

That's a good question. As far as I know, that man was the Living God, and something completely unexpected and impossible happened two thousand years ago. He died and rose from the dead, the story goes. He died and rose from the dead, and that saves you. He died and rose from the dead, and that frees you.

Because when God looks at you, he doesn't see what you see. He doesn't see failure or something broken. He sees the living, breathing you he had in mind. He sees the Living God, who stands in your stead, who takes your place, and who was there all along.

God did a good job when he made you.

Come and meet him where he is, with you, Emanuel.

Amen.