A prayer for Holy Week

I thank you, Jesus, for becoming a human being
so I do not have to pretend or try to be God.
I thank you, Jesus, for becoming finite and limited
so I do not have to pretend that I am infinite or limitless.
I thank you, crucified God for becoming mortal
so I do not have to try to make myself immortal.
I thank you Jesus for becoming inferior
so that I do not have to pretend that I am superior to anyone.
I thank you for being crucified outside the walls,
for being expelled and excluded like the sinners and outcasts,
so you can meet me where I feel that I am,
always outside the walls of worthiness.

I thank you for becoming weak, Lord Jesus,
so I don't have to be strong.
I thank you for being willing to be considered imperfect and strange,
so I do not have to be perfect and normal.
I thank you Jesus for willing to be disapproved of
so I do not have to try so hard to be approved and liked.
I thank you for being considered a failure
so I do not have to live my life trying to pretend I'm a success.
I thank you for being wrong by the standards of religion and state
so I do not have to be right anywhere....even in my own mind.
~Richard Rohr