Hi Readers,
Writing to you today on one of those hectic summer days, filled with a long line at the Goodwill drop off, summer camp pick up and drop off, loads of laundry, podcast and video recordings, and lunch bites of a chicken wrap stolen over a few minutes while working …
Life feels hectic, and at the same time, I’m so grateful for the opportunity to do this work with this community here on Substack - while at the same time sitting in the waiting room at the eye doctor next to my 10-year-old son!
I’m also grateful for reliable air conditioning, cold lemonade on a 96-degree day in Minnesota, and our family of four working together over the weekend to clean out and redo a bedroom.
With an unexpected health hiccup for one of the boys last week, I’ve had to do a lot of rescheduling, recalibrating, as well as some slowing down. That isn’t always easy for me, so I keep reminding myself of the wise words of Kristin McGee:
It’s probably partially the eldest daughter in me, but it’s not easy to “put things down.” Before you can put it down, you have to slow it down. One of the things that forces me to do that, as I shared in last week’s sermon at Lake Nokomis Lutheran, is reading and studying the psalms, as we have been doing here. So … let’s get to the Psalm!
If you’re looking for a study of all today’s other Lectionary readings, you can find that here:
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Psalm 86:11-17
Psa. 86:11 Teach me your way, O LORD,
that I may walk in your truth;
give me an undivided heart to revere your name.
12 I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart,
and I will glorify your name forever.
13 For great is your steadfast love toward me;
you have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol.
Psa. 86:14 O God, the insolent rise up against me;
a band of ruffians seeks my life,
and they do not set you before them.
15 But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.
16 Turn to me and be gracious to me;
give your strength to your servant;
save the child of your serving girl.
17 Show me a sign of your favor,
so that those who hate me may see it and be put to shame,
because you, LORD, have helped me and comforted me.
For our study of the Psalms (and other songs of Scripture), I’m going to make a suggestion. Psalms - like poetry - require deep contemplation and study. Each word is weighted and heavy. So even though my typical tendency is to read quickly, I’m going to force myself to slow down. To read each word again. Aloud.
OK, I just did that. How about you?
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