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Showing posts from November, 2016

Psalmistry, Week 2: Psalm 32

Psalm 32   (ICEL) (1) Of David, A maskil. (2) Happy the pardoned,      whose sin is canceled,      in whom God finds      no evil, no deceit. (3)  While I hid my sin,      my bones grew weak      from endless groaning. (4) Day and night,      under the weight of your hand,      my strength withered      as in a summer drought. Selah 1 (5) Then I stopped hiding my sin      and spoke out,     "God, I confess my wrong."      And you pardoned me. Selah 1 (6) No wonder the faithful      pray to you in danger!      Even a sudden flood      will never touch them. (7) You, my shelter,      you save me from ruin.      You encircle me      with songs of freedom. Selah 1                *** (8) "I show you the path to walk.       As your teacher,       I watch out for you. (9) "Do not be a stubborn mule,       needing bridle and bit       to be tamed." (10) Evil brings grief;       trusting in God brings love.    

Reclaimation

Today, I stood in my shower in utter despair. I ceased to believe in the possibility of change. Amidst the horrors of humanity implied by these election results, I couldn't imagine a world in which anyone's heart could be moved. My hope was gone, my call to ministry shattered. Why bother? And then I remembered. I remembered  a People who had faced this despair. Who were brought out of bondage only to be left wandering in the wilderness. Who were conquered again and again but held fast somehow to the knowledge of Who they Are. Who in exile clung all the tighter to the markers of their identity, lest they forget to whom they belong. Who knew Justice had come to set them free again and who rallied and fought for a better world. They truly believed it was happening before their eyes and under their hands. And then they watched that hope be crucified. What was left for then that evening but despair? And so, though I've been feeling my way back into the intentional fo