LXXI. Upon a Solid Rock I Stand (6/6) God is my rock, my fortress, my deliverer. (Psalm 18:1; read Psalm 18:1-3) hen I was a child, we often sang “Rock of Ages” in church. I liked the hymn because it made sense to me. Rocks were solid and strong, and I enjoyed skipping stones. I knew God wasn’t a rock, but that God was strong and faithful and would protect me from harm. And, so this morning, I sang a... Read more
LXX. When Patience is Challenging (6/5) How long, O God? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I bear pain in my soul, and have sorrow in my heart all day long? (Psalm 13:1-2; read Psalm 13 in its entirety.) The Psalms cover the full range of emotions and religious feelings. God is ever-present and yet there are moments of divine absence not unlike those of the fabled Job, who... Read more
LXIX Refuge in God (6/4) In God I take refuge. (Psalm 11:1; read Psalm 11 in its entirety.) Life is upside down. The righteous are troubled. The future is in doubt. In such moments, the Psalmist remembers that our hope is in God. This is not retreat, withdrawal, or denial, but immersion in the challenging realities of life, in the realities of pandemic and protest, in national uncertainty, and discovering that beyond tragedy is grace and deliverance. What does it... Read more
The Adventurous Lectionary – The Second Sunday after Pentecost – June 21, 2020 Genesis 18:1-15, Psalm 116:1-2, 12-19, Romans 5:1-8, Matthew 9:35-10:8 This Sunday’s readings connect hospitality, healing, and mission, whether we are in ordinary time, facing a pandemic, or in the middle of protesting injustice. They ask us and our congregations to expect surprises when we align ourselves with God’s vision for our lives. God’s energy and power move through all creation, however, when we are awakened to God’s... Read more
LXVIII The Absent God (6/3) Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble? (Psalm 10:1; read Psalm 10:1-4, 12-18) “Why doesn’t God end the Coronavirus now?” so asks a young child. That is a legitimate question for those who believe God exists and makes a difference in the universe. We know many of the wrong answers – the Coronavirus is God’s punishment for our nation’s immorality as if God is singling the USA out; it is a sign that... Read more
LXVII Whole-Hearted Gratitude (6/2) I will give thanks to God with my whole heart; I will tell of your wonderful deeds. (Psalm 9:1) Spirituality is connected with wonder and gratitude. Wholehearted thanks awakens our sense of the wondrous interdependence of life – the heavens above, the ecosystems surrounding us, the beauty of the human and non-human world, the intricacy of our cells and the holiness of our souls. Gratitude connects us with our human and non-human siblings. It is a... Read more
LXVI A Little Less than Divine (6/1) You have made us holy and divine. (Psalm 8:5. Read Psalm 8 in its entirety.) The Psalmist proclaims that humankind has been made “a little lower than God.” To me, given our track record of war, poverty, racism, hate, and alienation among friends and family, this seems a real stretch. Perhaps, we seem like the warring gods of the Norse or Greeks, but not the God of the Universe, the Parent of Jesus... Read more
LXV. The Grandeur of the Universe (5/31) When I look at your heavens. (Psalm 8:3; Read Psalm 8:1-4) The Psalmist lived in a prescientific age. The Psalmist knew nothing about astronomy or the trillion galaxies, estimated by today’s astronomers. Yet, the Psalmist knew awe and wonder. The Psalmist experienced what Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel described as the heart of spirituality, “radical amazement.” Even on a day when we deal with pandemic and protests, wonder puts things in perspective. Every morning... Read more
LXIV Trust and Morality (5/30) When you are disturbed do not sin…put your trust in God. (Psalm 4:4, 5. Read Psalm 4 in its entirety.) Interesting words, “when you are disturbed do not sin…but trust God.” Often under stress, we become disoriented and lash out. We lose our cool and blame others or respond excessively to the imperfections of those around us. In close quarters with my family, I recognize that this is always a possibility. I remember that when... Read more
LXIII. God’s Shield Surrounds Me (5/29) You are a shield around me. (Psalm 3:3. Read Psalm 3 in its entirety.) Once again, the Psalm mirrors our current situation. Once again, the Psalmist feels at risk. Foes surround him – and likely the nation. He wonders if he can hold out for the long haul. Yet, he discovers peace in God’s presence. God is a shield. God will protect David and God will protect us. This enables us to go from... Read more
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