WHERE RU? Confession

Genesis 3:8-10 Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden. But the LORD God called to the man, "Where are you?" He answered, "I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.“ (NIV)

The advent of mobile technology has meant that the traditional phone greeting of How are you? Has been replaced

These days WHERE RU? is the first question we ask when we call someone on a mobile.

Ringing a land line ensures an understanding of place and location of the subject but with mobile technology we have no understanding of someone’s physical presence. If someone is close by we know we can hang up and speak face to face. They may be very close or they may be far away.

WHERE RU? reminds us that conversation and relationship without an understanding of the context of the other is very difficult.

As we come to confession think about your relationships to other people, perhaps people with whom you have had difficulty or conflict with in the past week, or who disturb you in some way. How might a better understanding of their context shape your response to the situation or your confession.

Where RU? is also the first question that God asks of humanity in the bible. To Adam and Eve in the garden after they have sinned.

As part of your confession consider where are you in relationship to God. Are you near or far?

Like the story of Adam and Eve
Are you doing something you should not, eating something you shouldn't;
Are you hiding, on the run, avoiding the consequences of choices you have made;
Are you blaming others around you for your issues or the position you find yourself in.
Consider a time when you were not there for someone or someone was not there for you.
A time you felt fear, naked or ashamed before God and others.

If you have a mobile phone you may wish to make your confession by texting some words or thoughts to your own phone number.

As you hear the beeps and message alerts know that you are joined with others in your struggles and failures.

You may wish to erase the message as a way of remembering that God is faithful and just and forgives our sins.

You may then turn your phones off for the remainder of the service.