Wow.

You guys are fantastic. Thank you, for so much understanding, and so much love. You are helping, more than you know. (And thank you MadPriest, for sending a call out.) I really appreciate everyone's concern. I hear you urging me to be gentle with myself, and I know you're right. Thank you.

(Orthodox) Mimi, we have a full penitential rite which I could request if I wanted--it isn't what I need right now. I want to lift out the confession that we use in this season, at my church. I didn't help write this part of the liturgy, so I don't know where it comes from--the usual copyright cautions apply. Still, the language heals me--and you are of course welcome to pray it at home.

That's what I'll be doing, until Sunday when I can do this in my community, and know the absolution is for real. (If I pray that piece now, it's a "please," not a "yes.")

We say:

Beloved God,
you come to us when we are most ashamed;
and when we long to hide our face from you,
you will not allow us to turn away.
You call us by our name;
you touch us, raise us,
invite us into shameless love.
God our lover, know us, judge us,
turn us, wound us, demand of us,
forgive us.
We are yours.
We abandon ourselves to your love.
We trust you.
Amen.

The Presider says to the People:

May the God of infinite grace bless you, hold you,
wrestle with you, embrace you in love,
forgive you, and make you whole.