"The eyes of all wait upon you, O Lord, and you give them their food in due season." Psalm 145:15 The eyes of all wait upon you, O Lord. On the trail eyes wait for food. On this nation's city streets, on this day and yesterday and how many thousands of days before, eyes watch killings. Eyes watch … [Read more...] about Psalm 145 (Psalms on the Trail)
Psalms on the Trail
Psalm 144 (Psalms on the Trail)
"O Lord, what are human beings that you regard them, or mortals that you think of them? They are like a breath, their days are a passing shadow." Psalm 144:3-4 There is a worldview that perceives our life here as concrete and physically tangible, while whatever "after-life" there is will be something rather nebulous, maybe shadowy. The psalmist has another worldview, … [Read more...] about Psalm 144 (Psalms on the Trail)
Psalm 143 (Psalms on the Trail)
I meditate on all Thy works; I muse on the work of Thy hands." Psalm 143:5 (KJV) This yellow lady slipper is a joy to "muse on." I passed it in the Shenandoah National Park along the Appalachian Trail on a cloudy day. It is part of the orchid family. The large yellow sac is really a petal called the labellum which serves as an inviting landing space for an insect who … [Read more...] about Psalm 143 (Psalms on the Trail)
Psalm 142 (Psalms on the Trail)
"When my spirit is faint, you show me the way." Psalm 142:3 I know I've mentioned it several times over the last few weeks, but there were situations of boulder climbing or wet rock treading while on the New Jersey and New York trail where I wasn't sure I was going to get up or down. Imagine a jumble of boulders ten times the size of the ones pictured above or visualize … [Read more...] about Psalm 142 (Psalms on the Trail)
Psalm 141 (Psalms on the Trail)
"Let my prayer rise before you as incense; the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice." Psalm 141:2 Not far from my home, the Appalachian Trail skirts a corner of this lake. There's a bench here. When I sit down and see mist rising, I think of this verse: "Let my prayer rise before you as incense." These words are sung in our Lutheran evening prayer and I know … [Read more...] about Psalm 141 (Psalms on the Trail)