Valley of Vision

"O, how I mourn my sin, ingratitude, vileness, the days that add to my guilt, the scenes that witness my offending tongue all things in heaven, earth, around, within,, without, condemn me- the sun which sees my misdeeds, the darkness which is light to thee, the cruel accuser who justly charges me, the good angels who have been provoked to leave me, thy countenance which scans my secret sins, thy righteous law, thy holy Word, my sin-soiled conscience, my private and public life, my neighbours, myself- all write dark things against me. I deny them not, frame no excuse, but confess, 'Father I have sinned'; yet still I live, and fly repenting to thy outstretched arms; thou wilt not cast me off, for Jesus brings me near, thou wilt not condemn me, for he died in my stead, thou wilt not mark my mountains of sin, for he levelled all, and his beauty covers my deformities. O my God, I bid farewell to sin by clinging to his cross, hiding in his wounds, and sheltering in his side."

-Valley of Vision, Divine Mercies

Ok. In case I haven't previously mentioned a new romance in my life here it is: I LOVE the Valley of Vision. The prayers are so human; I can relate to the author with everyone. The beautiful prose that the prayers are written in bring me to ages past, but are so effective in the here and now.

This specific prayer, Divine Mercies, I really enjoyed. Sin is so real and so dangerous! And yet it is a struggle everyday to hate it and it's family, the world! Everyday I fall into its snares and traps, but, by God's grace alone, I am under the grace not the law! Another thing that endeared me to this prayer was the way it brought me back to the gospel at the end. As I read I went from agonizing over all my iniquities to rejoicing in the forgiveness and love found in the cross. The last line is so beautiful; it's worth revisiting:

"O my God, I bid farewell to sin by clinging to his cross, hiding in his wounds, and sheltering in his side."