The sermon last Sunday (and accompanying article) addressed the church as being a “scattered” people. Not only do we feel scattered, but we see ourselves getting caught up in a load of schedules. This may not be a bad thing; rather, God can use us just as effectively within this scattered world to reach people for His sake.
This prayer is from Bless This Mess & Other Prayers by Jo Carr and Imogene Sorley (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1969), p. 37.
A prayer of gratitude from the heart of a “scattered” people:
Lord,
How is it that when I lift my eyes to thee
so often all I see is that splat of oatmeal on the kitchen ceiling
and a new crack in the paint?
I want to do glorious deeds–
but I have to iron white shirts
and bake cupcakes for the Brownie meeting.
I want to be a saint–one of the architects of the kingdom–
but you know, better than I do,
that I’m considerably less than a saint.
And yet somehow the most honest meditation I have known
has happened over an ironing board.
A most honest sort of love can be stirred into a batch of cupcakes.
I don’t really have to see visions to be aware of thy nearness.
I don’t really have to achieve saintliness to know thy love.
Thank you, Lord.
Thank you for not requiring of me that which I cannot do
or see
or be.
Help me worship, and serve, and love
in the ways that I know.
Amen.
Baptist Spirituality 
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