A Pilgrim's Song

Reading through the psalms of ascent, hearing from God, talking with people...I've been struck by the need to grow up, to leave old places (thoughts, attitudes, actions) and journey on with God. The following is my "psalm" - based loosely on the first few psalms of ascent and a lot on the theme of growing up.

Lord, I confess I need to grow up
I dwell in the land of whiners and complainers
Of those who like to gaze at their own reflections
who think so highly of their own estimation of themselves
The landscape around me is filled with gods and idols,
self-help and pop-psych
All whispering tantalizing promises of rescue

But it is You, O Lord, that I will fix my gaze upon
It is on Your words (or silence) I will place my trust
Upon You and only You will my gaze be fixed

So to You, Lord, I will bring worship
Though other voices call out for my allegiance,
I will bow my knees and heart before You and You alone
To worship during the day - in light and joy
To worship in darkness - in fear and despair
To give thanks to Your great name
-that is what it means to be one of Yours

I will trust Your judgments, Lord
For You are setting the world to right
You are establishing Your redemptive work for all creation
Nothing can stop You - even if it happens in ways I do not understand

To You will my eyes look
You are far above me and yet right next to me
You dwell in majesty and glory,
Yet You are the Potter who gets His hands dirty
as You carefully - creatively - shape our lives for Your glory

We will look to You and cry "mercy"
Give us mercy and not what we think we want
Give us mercy and not our petty whining and complaining choruses

We will look to You
trust in You
worship You
listen for You
and work with You in Your action.

Beyond Roman Roads

I am studying the lives of Celtic saints and Celtic Christianity in general this summer. I find in them a rhythm and resonance that is innate in me and yet opposite of so much of what I've been taught in Christiandom.

I read the other day of how, in most places, in Ireland, Scotland and Wales, the great roads of the Roman Empire never made headway. They paved the landscape throughout the known and civilized world. They allowed for efficient travel of people, merchandise and ideas. They linked countries together in certain commonalities. But there came an end to the roads...

The Celts were beyond the Roman roads. They were "uncivilized" and had no knowledge of the common story shared between cultures. They didn't have the book we call the Bible, but they had another "book" called creation. The efficiency of an empire broke down in these lands. The terrain was rough and harsh and had not been conquered. Those who loved God came here not to conquer but to set up communities, to befriend, to find the story of God in the story of the people, to tell those who loved creation that there is a Creator.

It reminded me of a new group of people I find myself interacting with more and more. They are beyond the roads of Christiandom; they live in lands not paved with our roads of efficiency nor do they know the common stories. They don't want to go to church or have someone lead them through whatever quick and efficient way we have of sharing the gospel. They are rough on the edges - skeptical and cynical. They readily embrace a spirituality but have no idea of the Spirit.

How do we find these people? I think we must be willing to go beyond roman roads and pave new territory into the hills, valleys, forests, urban hubs, cities and all places of habitation. We walk new paths with these new friends - telling them an old Story in a new context. We renounce our inclination toward efficiency and choose relationship instead.

Tuesday Morning Prayer

Walking today was amazing!! I followed my same route through the trails in the forest to emerge onto the beach. But today, I was struck with the growth and fullness of the vegetation around me. Perhaps because summer was so late in arriving or perhaps because I enjoyed the barrenness of the forest in the winter, today the abundance of foliage just overwhelmed me. And as I walked, I thought of this: (taken from Celtic Benediction by J. Philip Newell)

In the beginning, O God,
when the firm earth emerged from the waters of life
You saw that it was good.
The fertile ground was moist
the seed was strong
and earth's profusion of colour and scent was born.
Awaken my senses this day
to the goodness that still stems from Eden.
Awaken my senses
to the goodness that can still spring forth
in me and in all that has life.


and this one:


The world is alive with Your goodness, O God,
it grows green from the ground
and ripens into the roundness of fruit.
Its taste and its touch
enliven my body and stir my soul.
Generously given
profusely displayed
Your graces of goodness pour forth from the earth.
As I have received
so free me to give.
As I have been granted
so may I give.