Come as you are

Starter Prayer:  "Merciful God, all I can give you, and all you ever want, is who I really am.  This little woman or little man that I am now gives you back my only and true self."  (From Wondrous Encounters by Richard Rohr)

Read Luke 18:9-14

Family, friends, congregations, school systems. corporations, communities, civic organizations (the list goes on) all have a way of designating status.  Titles are bestowed -- patriarch, matriarch, head, chairperson, president, captain, valedictorian, mayor, or star.  Superlatives are granted:  best, most valuable, winner, alpha, gold medallist.  This system inflates the ego on both an individual and corporate level.

Here is the truth.  None of that matters.  Forget the accolades.  Throw out the trophies, certificates or ribbons.  Burn the letters of proclamation.  They mean absolutely nothing to God.

You mean everything to God.

Look in the mirror.  Who are you?  How are you?  What you see is the what you can offer to God--no more, no less.