WHAT CONSCIENCE DREADS

“In the abundance of your kindness, surpass the merits and desires of those who entreat you. Pour out your mercy upon us, to pardon what conscience dreads and to give what prayer does not dare to ask.”

This excerpt is from a Collect prayer for pardon and mercy for each of us:

“...to pardon what conscience dreads, and

to give what prayer does not dare to ask.”

What powerful symbols of the limits of our humanity! These two phrases form the framework within which we corral our possibilities. For whether we are considering our relationship to our God, or Higher Power, or whether we are considering our relationships to one another, why would we presume these two limitations as our boundaries? Why would we presume that the other of whom we are requesting pardon and grace would limit him or herself to these boundaries?

“...to pardon what conscience dreads” assumes, for example, that our friend, spouse or relative will not tolerate something we in conscience have said or done. Moreover, it assumes that we would not be forgiven. We are all, after all, human. Why assume that another human being would see our frailties as unusual or unforgivable?

“...to give what prayer does not dare to ask” assumes that our spouse, friend or relative would never give us that for which we ask, and would be selfish enough to have limitations on his or her willingness towards us. Why would we assume that our goodness would not be returned by theirs, in an abundant and unexpected way?

Have you ever considered how often our own presumption of limitation limits our own possibilities? Have we ever noticed that the unexpected in others would have been the everyday in ourselves? There is a certain arrogance in this attitude, as we sometimes seem to feel that others cannot show the generosity of heart that we show.

This prayer reflects back onto our own attitude in a way that is, I believe, instructive. For if we begin to expect the best in others, it will elevate our own intentionality as we head out into the world. And, in fact, consider this… it may just elevate what was possible in our relationships, in our own experience, and in the experience of those with whom we share our journey.