"For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I do."

This story may or may not have happened at a particular point in time, but it most likely happens across the globe, in one way or another, on a daily basis. At least it seems a persistent refrain in my own life.

Sharon is an eighth grader, a bright young lady who excels in her studies. Michael is her five-year-old brother, a wonderful young man but ... well did I mention he's a five-year-old boy? And did I mention his name is Michael? A word to young couples from one who knows: name your sons "Michael" at your own peril. At least talk to parents of Michaels in advance. Then again, you get your Michael to age twenty, with your sanity - and his - intact, you're in for a treat!

This particular five-year-old Michael is watching intently as his big sister works on her Social Studies project. Sharon is making a globe of planet earth. The paper mache orb has dried and has been finger-painted a sparkling blue. The continents are all cut and labeled, ready for final placement. Sort of reminds you of the opening chapter of Genesis, when God surveys what had been created, "and God saw that it was good." Well Sharon was also plenty pleased about her project. Then, Sharon leaves the room. Michael does not. This is a key part of the story: Sharon leaves the room. Michael does not. When Sharon returns her globe has been ravaged by Hurricane Michael. The continents look war-torn and forlorn. Michael did not mean to do it. He did not intend to do it. But do it he did! "For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I do." A shepherd near Bethlehem once shared this truism, "Sheep don't intend to go lost and in trouble; they just nibble themselves away from the flock, one blade of grass at a time." So far, this story reflects life as it all-too-often is. When Sharon sees the destruction of her project, she begins to holler at Michael and Michael begins to cry. "I'm sorry," he sobs. "I didn't mean it."

But now things take an unexpected turn - Michael's guilt is is wiped clean! Sharon is moved and showers grace and compassion on her brother. Her anger melts away. And this is where Sharon is truly created in the image of God. She wraps Michael in her arms and says, "I forgive you, even though you made a mess of my world."

This is a 21st Century mirror to the words of St. Paul in our text this morning. Paul sounds as if he is kneeling in some confessional. He uses the "I" word twenty-three times in these ten brief verses. "I" - "I" - "I" - "I" Not with pride, mind you, but with shame and chagrin. "I do not understand my own actions.... I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.... I can will what is right, but I cannot do it.... I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I do." "I" - "I" - "I" - "I," and finally concluding, with the twenty-third "I" - - "O wretched man that I am! Who will rescue me?" I don't know about you, but St. Paul seems to have been reading my autobiography ... and I haven't even written it!

The biblical witness, beginning in Genesis, is one long story of people making a mess of God's world - the world God so loves and so lovingly created. I'm not talking about the environment. This is not the time for a hot-button political rant about global warming: some folks believing it's a left-wing hoax, while others claim it is a right-wing in denial. As we celebrate the 4th of July - we do so with the joyful recognition that there's a center in America's tent for us all - a place for honest, and respectful, and healthy debate!

So I'm not talking this morning about our making a mess of God's world in terms of the environment. I'm talking about the fact that you and "I" - "I" - "I" - "I" have made messes of our personal worlds - the zip codes where we live out our lives. Families falling apart, friendships disintegrating, relationships faltering, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera! Not that we set out to make messes ... but we nibble ourselves away from others one petty argument at a time. Life is too short. Love is too strong. And yet, we so often misunderstand, misuse, mishandle, mess up and, "O wretched people that we are! Who will rescue us?"

We have a clue as to the Who this morning - a clue as to the Source of our rescue. A Savior is as near as our font. The source of our salvation is Jesus Christ, who rescues us by means of the water of Baptism. That water is nothing less than the moisture of eternal life! Baptism is nothing less than our freedom from sin and death. And that Source of our rescue is as near as this altar: Jesus in bread and wine. Today in the words of the Apostles' Creed, we recognize the words as nothing less than a declaration of dependence upon our God.

Want to help clean up and prevent the messes of this world? After all, Paul is not only talking about Jesus saving us for the world to come ... Paul is talking about the power of God in our lives here-and-now. There is a simple phrase in the Psalm for this morning ... something that would be great to mimic. "The Lord is gracious and full of compassion, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love." I'm going to try to remember to begin each day with this morning mantra; maybe you'd consider it too. "Today I will be gracious and full of compassion, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love." It can only make our lives, and the lives around us, a whole lot better. "Today I will be gracious and full of compassion, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love." We might not always be successful; after all, as Paul reminds us, "For I do not do what I want, but the very thing I hate." Nevertheless, starting the day this way cannot hurt; this morning mantra: "Today I will be gracious and full of compassion, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love."

Any success with this morning mantra won't make God loves us more; God could not possibly love us more, But it might help us to respect ourselves more, in a healthy way, and create a better environment for those who care for us.

Yes, we have made, and we will continue to make, messes of God's world. Nevertheless, may God grant us the strength to live better lives, helping us be "gracious and full of compassion, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love."