“Create for me a contrite Spirit” the psalmist writes. 

God will not spurn us if we come before God with a contrite heart, if we are willing to acknowledge our own inadequacy like a child experiencing the death of a pet comes to a parent to seek consolation, we can come before God with all of the perplexity in our lives to seek understanding that only God can give us.  As we are living in turbulent times with many unresolved problems such as the racism in our society, we need to be aware of how we might be benefiting from past and present injustices.  Are we people who have privileges not available to others? Our God is merciful and accepts us and all people just as we are.

As God has compassion for us, are we not led to have compassion for those who are on the margins in our society.  Maybe our blindness, our small mindedness can give way to a deeper awareness and a willingness to accept all people as our brothers and sisters who are all on a pilgrimage to reach a better world and a better life for all.