as I got out of the car at work and looked up, I saw this
Yesterday I met with a group of people on ZOOM who were in my Spiritual Direction cohort at Columbia Theological Seminary. We were meeting to discuss group supervision.
I felt led to open our time together with lectio divina (sacred reading) and what chose me was Psalm 62 from Nan Merrill's Psalms for Praying. I had the date 8/2/23 next to verses 6 and 7 and had drawn two trees with a hammock between them, as the words had given me an image of being held as in a cocoon, a hammock. Looking back over my blogposts, I wrote about that time here. So, if you want to read those reflections, go check it out.
I wasn't sure what caused the short passage to choose me yesterday, but after our time of silence, I knew. It spoke to the group. It was needed for each one, in different ways or situations, but needed. I'm glad I listened.
I'm going to share the reading here.
I encourage you to read it through at least two times, slowly. Then spend some time in silence. If you're not used to silence, try 5 minutes. If you are comfortable with silence, I encourage you to sit for 20 minutes. What from the reading captured your attention? Let it soak in.
For You alone my soul waits in silence; my hope is from the Beloved. Enfolding me with strength and steadfast love, my faith shall remain firm. In the Silence rests my freedom and my guidance; for You are the Heart of my heart, You speak to me in the Silence.
Psalm 62:6-7, Psalms for Praying, Nan Merrill
As I reflect on these words today, what stands out for me?
my soul waits in silence
my hope is from the Beloved
strength
steadfast love
my faith shall remain firm
freedom
guidance
Heart of my heart
You speak to me in the Silence
There is so much here, in these short two verses. Going further into the Psalm, in verse 8, there is a line "Let Silence be a refuge for you."
Ah, yes. Silence IS a refuge. And, in the silence, all of the things above, in verses 6 and 7 come out of the silence.
Making time for silence and making time to be with the Beloved, the Creator, is a vital part of my spiritual practice.
I decided to read some Scripture this morning-- or rather to allow it to read me. Lectio divina, sacred reading, is a reading method that resonates with me.
It is a spiritual practice that I float in and out of. Having just finished Daniel Wolpert's chapter (chapter 2) in Creating a Life with God on it, I decided it would be a good time to dive in.
A few notes from Wolpert before I share from my lectio reading:
"...allow the words to sink down into the depths of your being." (52)
"The Word of God becomes real and alive and active in you right here, right now." (54)
"Prayer is not a product; it is a relationship." (56)
Looking through Nan Merrill's Psalms for Praying, I landed on Psalm 62 and these two verses (6-7):
For You alone my soul waits in silence;
my hope is from the Beloved.
Enfolding me with strength and steadfast love,
My faith shall remain firm.
In the Silence rests my freedom and my guidance;
for You are the Heart of my heart,
You speak to me in the Silence.
As I reflected, these words "enfolding me with strength and steadfast love" stood out to me.
This brings to mind my spiritual practice of spending time in a hammock, of being. When I am in a hammock I am enclosed, enfolded, almost as if I am in a cocoon. I am able to to rest in that space, knowing I am held.
The time strengthens me, refreshes me, renews me.
During the days and months of the pandemic, I spent much time in a hammock. It was healing. It was transformational.
It helped me be still. It allowed me rest. I waited in the silence and was reminded of love as I regained strength and hope.
I have been missing hammock time and the reading this morning reminded me of the benefits of this spiritual practice for me.
Hammock time was and is a time of freedom and guidance for me. It is a spiritual practice go-to when I am feeling overwhelmed, stressed, uncertain, tired, seeking connection with the Creator, and/or any other thing.
I truly sense the enfolding of the Spirit in that space.
Where (when, how) do you sense the enfolding love, hope, and strength of the Beloved?
Hammock time isn't the sole time for me, but it is what came up in this morning's reading of Psalm 62.
Today I needed more rest for my soul. You might think that all that outdoors time on Thursday was enough to last me a long time. The truth is, the more I have spent in silence and solitude over the past several years, the more my soul craves it. It is in the silence that I can hear the One Voice most clearly and my soul finds rest.
My body rested yesterday, even though the weather was super perfect to be outside.
Today was a more cloudy day, though the sun broke through at times. Still, I knew I needed to get out. I went to North Chickamauga Creek Gorge. I haven't been there in a while. Without going up the hiking trail, it's not as long of a walk as other places, but it is a place I can go to experience water and rocks and be in creation.
When I got there this afternoon, I needed to park down at the bottom parking area. There were about 30 cars there. Lots of folks outside this afternoon. I wonder what it was like at the Greenway Farm?
I walked along the hiking path and encountered several folks walking, some with dogs. It was a great afternoon to be out.
Most everytime I am out in creation, the words "my soul magnifies the Lord" from a song come to mind. Today, in addition, I kept thinking about my soul finding rest, finding rest in God alone.
Why would I need more rest for my soul after having had so much so recently? I even had two worship services this morning plus the Thursday night worship time.
It is possible that the heaviness of this final semester that begins tomorrow is upon me. The nine graduate credits is going to keep me very busy.
It is also possible that tomorrow's interview with the Board of Ordained Ministry occupies some of my mind. I continue to trust God and seek to be an open and willing vessel, but because it is an important interview, the "nerve-excitedness" does come to surface at times.
There are other things that weigh down my soul at times. I continue to give them over to the One who can take care of them better than I, yet the burden is there. Even when God takes those burdens, there is day to day life that requires wisdom and discernment.
1
My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him.
2
He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.
3
How long will you assault a man? Would all of you throw him down-- this leaning wall, this tottering fence?
4
They fully intend to topple him from his
lofty place; they take delight in lies. With their mouths they bless,
but in their hearts they curse. "Selah"
5
Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him.
6
He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.
7
My salvation and my honor depend on God; he is my mighty rock, my refuge.
8
Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge. "Selah"
9
Lowborn men are but a breath, the highborn are but a lie; if weighed on a balance, they are nothing; together they are only a breath.
10
Do not trust in extortion or take pride in stolen goods; though your riches increase, do not set your heart on them.
11
One thing God has spoken, two things have I heard: that you, O God, are strong,
12
and that you, O Lord, are loving. Surely you will reward each person according to what he has done.
As I was walking along the hiking path and enjoying the sight and sounds of the roaring waters in the creek, I reflected on Psalm 61 and the verse about the rock being higher than I and its refuge from last week. Psalm 62 also mentions God being a rock, salvation, and refuge.
There were many rocks at the creek. One in particular caught my attention for being higher than I and one that could provide refuge and shelter.
There are several songs with "In God Alone" in them.
One is a Taizé song. Taizé songs are peaceful and calming.
In God alone my soul can find rest and peace,
in God my peace and joy.
Only in God my soul can find its rest,
find its rest and peace.
Aaron Keyes-- "My Soul Finds Rest in God Alone"
Lyrics:
My soul finds rest in God alone, My Rock and my salvation, A fortress
strong against my foes, And I will not be shaken. Though lips may bless
and hearts may curse, And lies like arrows pierce me, I'll fix my heart
on righteousness, I'll look to Him who hears me.
O praise Him, hallelujah, My Delight and my Reward; Everlasting, never failing, My Redeemer, my God.
Find
rest, my soul, in God alone Amid the world's temptations; When evil
seeks to take a hold I'll cling to my salvation. Though riches come and
riches go, Don't set your heart upon them; The fields of hope in which I
sow Are harvested in heaven.
O praise Him, hallelujah, My Delight and my Reward; Everlasting, never failing, My Redeemer, my God.
I'll
set my gaze on God alone, And trust in Him completely; With every day
pour out my soul, And He will prove His mercy. Though life is but a
fleeting breath, A sigh too brief to measure, My King has crushed the
curse of death And I am His forever.
O praise Him, hallelujah, My Delight and my Reward; Everlasting, never failing, My Redeemer, my God.
O praise Him, hallelujah, My Delight and my Reward; Everlasting, never failing, My Redeemer, my God.
O
praise Him, O praise Him, hallelujah, hallelujah, O praise Him, O
praise Him, hallelujah, hallelujah, O praise Him, O praise Him,
hallelujah! hallelujah!
O praise Him, hallelujah, My Delight and my Reward; Everlasting, never failing, My Redeemer, my God.
O praise Him, hallelujah, My Delight and my Reward; Everlasting, never failing, My Redeemer, my God.
(instrumental)
O praise Him, O praise Him, hallelujah, hallelujah, O praise Him, O
praise Him, hallelujah, hallelujah, O praise Him, O praise Him,
hallelujah! hallelujah! O praise Him, O praise Him, hallelujah!
hallelujah!
Lyrics from <a href="http://www.elyrics.net" rel="nofollow">eLyrics.net</a>
One other song that comes from Psalm 62 is one I learned from the Upper Room Worship Book: #278--"God is My Rock" / «El Señor es mi fuerza».
Here is a different group singing «El Señor es mi fuerza»:
I took one of my pictures and created a textgram today:
Maybe you were able to find some rest for your soul today. Whether
it was in something you read, something you listened to, some silence,
some time with a spiritual friend, or time in creation, or something else, I hope that your
soul has found rest.
My soul has. Through the ebb and
flow of life, it is a constant coming back to the center of my being,
to the center of my relationship with my Creator, that allows my soul to
rest.
Tonight's evening prayer time includes a healing service. In the Academy week, the next to last night is the healing prayer service. The last night? Well, let's just say it's a little different from all the other evenings. ☺
Anyway, tonight was special for me on several levels. One, I had been asked to read the Scripture in Spanish. I enjoy speaking Spanish. I enjoy reading Scripture. I enjoy reading Scripture in Spanish. Since I attend an English-speaking congregation, I don't get to read Scripture in Spanish. Though there was that one Sunday I was scheduled to read Scripture the day we returned from our Costa Rica mission trip... and the Scripture was all about missions.... I was able to read both in Spanish and English that day. That was a blast! There is something in reading the Scriptures in Spanish that throttles my engine even more than reading it in English. But, I digress.
So, I got to read Mark 5:25-34 tonight. Even though Spanish has been my language for over 30 years, I still struggle with my "rr". I struggle with the "r" sound in French too. It took me forever (it seemed) to get that down the summer I was at Middlebury. But, I don't worry too much because I still stumble, stutter, and struggle in my native language...English.
One of the songs tonight, "God Is My Rock"/«El Señor es mi fuerza», was on our worship plan. It is in the Upper Room Worshipbook, #278. Ot was written by Juan Antonio Espinosa and is based on Psalm 62.
It is powerful in both languages. But, tonight, I chose to sing it solely in Spanish. It is one of those songs that causes emotion to well up within me. The lyrics touch various parts of my life.... heart, mind, soul, and vocation.... so, that is likely why it gets me.
Blogpost in Spanish by the author of the song, Juan Antonio Espinosa, with the lyrics and information on where to find the song and buy it.
A new version of the song is found here at a website where it can be bought and/or played. The website is OCPenespañol.
For a scanned page of the song and some information from hymnary.org, click here.
Tú me guías por sendas de justicia,
me enseñas la verdad.
Tú me das el valor para la lucha,
sin miedo avanzaré.
El Señor es mi fuerza, mi roca y salvación.
Iluminas las sombras de mi vida,
al mundo das la luz.
Aunque pase por valles de tiniebla,
yo nunca temeré.
El Señor es mi fuerza, mi roca y salvación.
Yo confío el destino de mi vida
al Dios de mi salud.
A los pobres enseñas el camino,
su escudo eres Tú.
El Señor es mi fuerza, mi roca y salvación.
El Señor es la fuerza de su pueblo,
su gran Libertador.
Tú le haces vivir en confianza,
seguro en tu poder.
El Señor es mi fuerza, mi roca y salvación.
Lyrics in English:
Refrain (sing in the beginning and in between each verse)
God is my rock and my salvation,
the strength of my life.
1.
You still call us to walk the paths
of justice, you help us see the way.
As you give us the courage for life's trials,
we shall not be afraid.
2.
In the midst of our fears and darkening
shadows you bring us hope and light.
In your presence we go through death's dark valleys;
we shall not be afraid.
3.
We entrust you, the God of our salvation,
with all the future holds.
Guide, protect, and defend the poor and helpless;
you are their rock and shield.
4.
Lord Almighty, the great strength of your people,
our strong Deliverer.
Liberator, secure us in your power;
we trust in you alone.
So, another song from my Academy week, my overall Academy experience. For some reason, I have focused quite a bit on songs this week. The music tends to penetrate the depths of my heart, mind, and soul.... and enter into the hidden places of which I'm even unawares. When it happens, I am reassured that God is working in my life, that God does have a calling on my life, and that I following my Guide.
Truly, God is my rock and my salvation, the strength of my life. God is guiding me and giving me the courage to face the unknown. God is illuminating the shadows of my life, peeling away the onion layer and revealing the true self. I do have confidence in the destination of my life.
As you contemplate the lyrics of this song, in the language of your choosing, I hope it might speak to you.
