Remedy for motion sickness: Praying Psalm 27 – June 12
Today’s Readings: AM Psalm 75, 76; PM Psalm 23, 27 Ecclus. 46:1-10; 2 Cor. 13:1-14; Luke 20:1-8
The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom then shall I fear?
the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom then shall I be afraid?
When evildoers came upon me to eat up my flesh,
it was they, my foes and my adversaries, who stumbled and fell.
Though an army should encamp against me,
yet my heart shall not be afraid;
And though war should rise up against me,
yet will I put my trust in him. (Psalm 27:1-4)
One of the psalms appointed for today is Psalm 27. A note I have in my study Bible indicates that this is both a song of trust and a song of individual petition. How powerful and grounding these words of the psalmist can be in a time of unrest - either at home or in the greater world around us - when it feels that darkness and fear are encroaching upon one’s heart. Rather than focusing on the things that are passing away, the psalmist affixes their eyes upon God as the point of orientation and stability, the source of light and salvation. I imagine this type of focus like a remedy for motion sickness, when picking the one visual reference that is unmoving and steady, though the remainder of the surroundings are twisting, swerving, or rocking.
This psalm is one of powerful trust in God. I wonder how these words served as an anchor to people in ages past. I think about the faithful men and women who were persecuted during the Spanish Inquisition. Many who were called to the ecclesiastical (church) courts were converts from Judaism and Islam, and even Protestant Christians. They lived in fear of papal insistence upon doctrinal purity of the church. Through their devotion to God, surely they rehearsed the words, “Though an army should encamp against me, yet my heart shall not be afraid.” (v. 3)
I read about the first Native American Episcopal priest, Enmegahbowh, who died on this day in 1902. His name is tied to the meaning, “He that prays [for his people while] standing”. He grew up in a Ojibwe Band near Peterborough, Canada, and ended up in Minnesota. After serving as a deacon for three years and founding St. Columba Mission, Enmegahbowh played a peacekeeping role in the midst of the Dakota War of 1862. A band of Mississippi Chippewa were preparing to attack a military fort nearby, and the Ojibwe Band alum and clergyperson convinced the others of his band to avoid joining the siege. Enmegahbowh was captured by the rebel band because of his efforts to undermine their attack, then escaped and traveled in secret to warn the threatened fort. During this adversity, he may well have recited the words, “the Lord is my strength of my life; of whom then shall I be afraid?” (v. 1b).
I also read about the Brown family in Selma, Alabama, in 1945. 74-year-old Niecey, a Black woman, answered the door of her home early on a Sunday morning in June. An off-duty police officer George Booker, a white man, demanded to speak to one of her family members. She asked him to leave, but he forced the door open and began assaulting her. Niecey suffered a fractured skull and died two days later, on June 12. According to the Equal Justice Initiative’s “A History of Racial Injustice”, her grandchildren witnessed the attack, along with her husband who tried to protect his wife and the rest of their family by issuing a non-fatal shot to the officer’s shoulder. The justice system in 1940s Black Belt Alabama failed the Brown family; Officer Booker was acquitted of all murder charges. Verse 8 of Psalm 27 feels appropriate for this tale of trauma and heartache, “Even now he lifts up my head above my enemies round about me.” In an effort to remain faithful to God, those in a time of trial must cling to such words of promise.
For those who have experienced heartbreak and mistreatment, this ancient prayer rings relevant and true…not that this psalm can resolve the brokenness, but that it can remind us that others - now and before - have lived through hard times in faithfulness that God has been their helper in times of need. Our siblings on the journey have found ways to stand up, in spite of hardship, trusting in God’s ultimate protection, salvation, and sustenance. The closing verse of Psalm 27 reminds us, “O tarry and await the Lord’s pleasure; be strong, and he shall comfort your heart; wait patiently for the Lord.”
Stand up. Be strong. Comfort will come, with God’s help and love.
-- Katherine+
Questions for Reflection
When faced with fear or a time when you've witnessed injustice, what prayers have you prayed? Who is someone you have found as a confidante or encourager to get through a really hard time?
Daily Challenge
Sit with Psalm 27 in prayer for five minutes. Who comes to mind? Pray for that person. Pray for your own self. Spend another five minutes writing in a journal, reflecting on your prayer time and any insights that came to you.