A commentary on the 2019 Book of Common Prayer’s service for the “Reconciliation of Penitents”.

First, you enter. You have been waited upon. You are welcome in this space, have a seat.

Idly do people talk about “leaving the world at the door.” That is not true here. Bring the world with you —your cares, problems, stresses, sins, failures, collapsing dreams, the smell of where you just were, the thoughts which occupied you from your car to this little room, the screaming of children (yours or someone else’s), and the million things you need to do when you leave here —all of that bring with you. Leave none of it out.