Today’s Readings: Psalm 38; 1 Samuel 14:31-45; John 18:19-27; 2 Corinthians 9:1-6; Psalm 39
The timing of today’s second psalm seems uncanny since today is my 42nd birthday and the Psalm talks about things like “Oh! we’re all puffs of air. Oh! we’re all just shadows in a campfire. Oh! we’re just spit in the wind. We make our pile and then leave it” (Psalm 39: 6 from The Message). Kind of puts a different spin on one’s birthday, doesn’t it? Nevertheless, I do love the place where the psalmist takes us after bemoaning the fleeting nature of life. Immediately after finishing his rant, the psalmist goes on to say: “What am I doing in the meantime, Lord? Hoping, that’s what I’m doing…” Psalm 39:7 from The Message). What a transformative way to spend one’s time: hoping! Of course the notion of hoping then raises the question of what one is hoping for. That’s a question that will be on my mind today as I prepare to blow out birthday candles this evening. While you may not have an opportunity to blow out candles today, all of this makes me wonder where the hope in your life is taking you. What are YOU hoping for? As you consider that question, let that sense of hope lift your soul today as we remember that as people of faith our lives are not dictated simply by the “realities” that surround us; rather, our lives should be shaped by the hope and possibilities that engulf us. Til next time…
The timing of today’s second psalm seems uncanny since today is my 42nd birthday and the Psalm talks about things like “Oh! we’re all puffs of air. Oh! we’re all just shadows in a campfire. Oh! we’re just spit in the wind. We make our pile and then leave it” (Psalm 39: 6 from The Message). Kind of puts a different spin on one’s birthday, doesn’t it? Nevertheless, I do love the place where the psalmist takes us after bemoaning the fleeting nature of life. Immediately after finishing his rant, the psalmist goes on to say: “What am I doing in the meantime, Lord? Hoping, that’s what I’m doing…” Psalm 39:7 from The Message). What a transformative way to spend one’s time: hoping! Of course the notion of hoping then raises the question of what one is hoping for. That’s a question that will be on my mind today as I prepare to blow out birthday candles this evening. While you may not have an opportunity to blow out candles today, all of this makes me wonder where the hope in your life is taking you. What are YOU hoping for? As you consider that question, let that sense of hope lift your soul today as we remember that as people of faith our lives are not dictated simply by the “realities” that surround us; rather, our lives should be shaped by the hope and possibilities that engulf us. Til next time…
1 comment:
Rocks.I think about the rocks of altars of the old testament holding the writer down. " Deliver me from my transgressions." The writer remembers all the wrongs she has committed and all the wrongs done unto her. As I often do. Hope is indeed the answer as Craig notes. Hope is the answer because it is located in front of us. Not behind us. When we are dragging all the rocks of our past it is difficult to move forward.
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