Be A Living Psalm
By Jennifer Hoffman
It matters not.
The dialogue, the arguments
are not worth
the air you expend.
Rather, pick up the empty
beer bottle and rumpled
week-old newspaper
from the sidewalk.
Stop for just that moment
as you slice the peach
with a serrated knife.
Two drops of juice.
Look into the watery eyes
of the homeless man;
they may or may not
be vacant.
Hold the hand of your partner
of fifty years, smile
at the faint whistle of air
through his nostrils.
Be patient with your impatience
with your aged Mother;
know she, too, hates
you at times.
Lift your eyes to the ballet
of eagle and wind, a wind
that can sometimes send
roof tiles and tree limbs flying.
Slice the radish paper-thin,
spread it fan-like around
the white plate. Bless the bread
before you eat it.
Know that life shakes herself
awake each day, that random
pieces fall into your lap.
Your job is to hold praise
and lament with equal regard.
Your job is to be a living psalm.
Praise and lament are a part of life. Acknowledging and embracing that understanding can impact the way we experience our lives. As we move into a place of acceptance rather than resistance, we are increasingly able to “hold [them] with equal regard.” Doing so is a step towards being a living psalm … modeling the way the authors of the poetry of the Book of Psalms articulate the ebbs and flows of life, bringing all of ourselves to God, knowing that we will be welcomed and heard by the God who loves each of us more than we can imagine.
