Living Psalm 30

Pastor Cheryl invites you to reflect on this creative expression of Psalm 30:

Living Psalm 30

There is a certain scent in the air

when breakfast is being prepared.

You may lay in bed, staring at the ceiling,

listening to a cacophony of pots and pans

in the kitchen down below, or down the hall.

You might roll away from the sun, content to hear

the quiet murmur of others around a campfire

as they boil coffee and heat bacon and eggs

or pots of oatmeal to share as the sun comes up.

You might recall a Saturday in your childhood,

the specific muffins baked, the sound of cereal

poured into bowls. You may find yourself wishing

for your favorite diner, open 24 hours, breakfast

whenever the mood strikes. It might even remind you

of a morning when you woke, groggy and cold,

on the floor of your best friend’s bedroom, listening

to her father whistling while he made pancakes

that didn’t taste exactly like what you had at home.

The warmth it evokes, of that first breaking of the fast

after a long night or a good night or a sleepless night,

lingers in the nose, and in the heart, as surely as the sight

of Jesus on the shore, arms open, cook fire ready.

You jump from the boat, splashing through the shallows

to reach that comfort, to grasp at what has been lost

and found again. Words of thanksgiving tumble from your lips

as you eat. You have questions but you don’t pry.

The hunger is greater than your need to make sense

of why one moment is full of grace, and another,

dust in the mouth, the inescapable pit

in your stomach that this moment is temporary.

Soon, though, the day will begin. You will struggle to remember

that moment between sleep and waking when the possibilities

were infinite, when no mistakes had been made, and forgiveness

was not only given, but accepted. You may forget how hungry

you were, how comforting it was to be nourished and held,

if only for a moment. The memory of gratitude may fade.

You might take for granted, again, all that you swore to see

and celebrate. For better or worse, you are only human.

You will be hungry again, and God will be waiting.

Living Psalm for Easter 3C: Psalm 30 (inspired by John 21) was written by Maria Mankin.

We are the church and as we gather, in whatever form that may be, to worship, fellowship and serve, the church is alive and well.

Let us encourage one another. Remain safe and check in on one another. We will get through this, and when we do…and look back on the other side…we will be stronger, more grateful, and more connected than ever.