A line in the liturgical prayer of confession asks God’s forgiveness for what we have done, but also for the things “we have left undone”.
That line always catches in my throat.
For generosity left undone in favor of “personal financial security”.
For humility left undone in favor of ego.
For the sitting at His feet left undone to chase the life of busyness.
For kinds words left unspoken as I babbled other, less-edifying things.
For the good work left undone in favor of frivolity.
For the reconciliation left undone in favor of nursing private grievances.
For what’s done in secret left undone in favor of the stage.
For truth not spoken, justice not sought, and righteousness left undone in favor of others’ good opinion.
For the dreams left undreamed, the stories left unwritten, and the chances to create beauty left undone in favor of the status quo, life as usual, and my “comfort zone”.
For transformations we could’ve sparked, for the miracles we could’ve witnessed, for the grace we could’ve ministered left undone because we simply didn’t believe You’d empowered us for such astonishing things.
Forgive us Lord, for the things we have done.
And also for the things we have left undone.
There seems to be a lot of them.