On most mornings I begin a time of prayerful quiet by reading a psalm. I often write in my journal my personal prayers that sprout out of the psalmists' thoughts---things that I am struggling with or perhaps celebrating in my own life. But over the last couple of weeks there has been a shift. I have hit a stretch of psalms, 52-64, that have slowed me down, one after … [Read more...] about Psalms from the Underside
justice
Psalm 53 (Psalms on the Trail)
"Have they no knowledge, those evildoers who eat up my people like bread and do not call upon God?" Psalm 53:4 Reflection: The Great Allegheny Passage is a rail trail from Cumberland, Maryland, (where the C&O Canal trail from D.C. ends) to Pittsburgh. For its first 20 miles it runs beside tracks that take tourists from the river town up into mountains. Here you see … [Read more...] about Psalm 53 (Psalms on the Trail)
Psalm 35 (Psalms on the Trail)
Let them be like chaff before the wind, and let the angel of the Lord drive them away.... Give me justice, O Lord my God, according to your righteousness." Psalm 35:5, 24 Sometimes, in reading and praying through the psalms, I have to climb out of my safe place and dare to put my feet on someone else's path. In order to do that, in order to understand the depths of a … [Read more...] about Psalm 35 (Psalms on the Trail)
Psalm 11 (Psalms on the Trail)
In the Lord I take refuge; how can you say to me: 'Flee like a bird to the mountains'? Psalm 11:1 Reflection: These lovely creatures are gathering moisture from a dirt road that crosses the AT. They are vulnerable, not much interested in fleeing from predators, jeeps and inattentive backpackers, because they have more important things to do. Advised to flee the … [Read more...] about Psalm 11 (Psalms on the Trail)