We love our friends,
we think the best of them until
their actions bring us up short.
The fall from high regard
leaves us dizzy and disoriented.
Esteem and trust plummet
as deep disappointment blossoms.
God, can you fathom the human heart?
Is our dismay a faint echo of your own?
Give us the courage of Bethlehem
to walk in this one’s shoes.
Give us the strength of the desert
to resist great temptations.
Give us the grace of Cana
to love with free abandon.
Give us the joy of Jericho,
to offer fellowship freely.
Give us the hope of Bethany
to expect new life miracles.
God of the here and now,
after this great fall,
from the bottom up,
empower us to be your people
loving your people.
I am a Mennonite pastor currently teaching theology at Conrad Grebel University College in Waterloo, Ontario. I’ve served congregations in Ontario and most recently, Alberta.