Before discussing important things that bring you to read this blog, let me tell you of what has been in some senses the highlight of this past week.
Sundays after the service I linger around the church to talk to congregants. The last people remaining this past Sunday were elderly ladies sitting while sipping tea, talking about whatever came to their minds. I proceeded to sit down, and one said “oh hello, Josh.” I then replied: “I’m very sorry, but I don’t remember your name.” She said her name, and then the next lady said hers, and I then interjected: “and you’re Joy, correct?” She rejoined “my name is Rose.” I then, not missing a beat, said “well you know one of your countrymen once said ‘a rose by any other name is still a rose.'” There! I thought I truly had them trumped. Not only did I one-up them in witticisms, but on their own turf! However, they all rejoined in seemingly rehearsed unison while looking at me, “By any other name would smell as sweet.” So, they got me this time, but all in the name of fun (pun intended).
It’s been a while since I’ve written about what scripture I am reading, so for those of you with ears to hear…
I’ve been working through some Old Testament passages of late. I was reading Job for a while. Job is interesting to me in that I know what’s going on in the beginning of the book, and at the very end, but throughout the middle I found myself saying “what am I supposed to be thinking about this? What am I supposed to be taking from this? What is this?” Thus, I wasn’t too upset to finish the book of Job. The next morning I turned the page. Those of you who remember back to your childhood Sunday school classes know the book that follows: Psalms! That exclamation point there is there on purpose. After the confusion that comes with Job, it was such a wonderful blessing to turn to those great chapters. I just can’t get enough of them.
One of the other things I’m learning through reading Psalms is that very often I approach God with a deeply respectful, perhaps professional, façade. I think there is certainly reason to do so. When Moses was in the presence of God, he was commanded to take off his sandals, for he was standing on Holy ground. It’s in that state of mind that I very often find myself while in prayer. However, I am noticing how open, and honest, David is before God. He isn’t hiding his feelings, his thoughts or his actions. In a certain sense, he isn’t saying “God this is how I know I need to change,” but “God this is what’s making me angry.” He is confessing all his feelings to God, very often times in his weakness—and he isn’t holding back much. Thus, I’ve been doing things slightly differently in my prayer life of late: complete honesty, very open confessions, etc.
“Show me your ways, O LORD,
teach me your paths;
guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my Savior,
and my hope is in you all day long.
Remember, O LORD, your great mercy and love,
for they are from of old.
Remember not the sins of my youth
and my rebellious ways;
according to your love remember me,
for you are good, O LORD.
Good and upright is the LORD;
therefore he instructs sinners in his ways…”
Psalm 25
