Sunday Reflection: Taste and see

Today's reflection is brought to you by

Psalm 34.

I bless you, 

Creator, 

at all times,

thanking you under my breath

whenever I notice your goodness.

You are the only reason

I should boast --

your love for all your creation

and for me

is a humbling thing.

I love to sing your praises

with the voice you have given me.

Whenever I seek your help

in times of stress,

whenever I am afraid

and put my fears in your hands,

you deliver me from anxiety

and fill me with peace.

All who call on you 

and wait patiently for your presence

will not be disappointed

for you are with us.

I have cried out to you in my times of trouble

and slowly but surely

(and sometimes instantly!)

you have delivered me.

I taste and see your goodness, 

O God.

Your eyes are on those who love you

and your ears hear their cries.

You allow those who abandon your ways

to reap as they sow

until they return to you as prodigal children.

You are near to the brokenhearted

and save the crushed in spirit.

We don't need to ask you to save us, 

because you already have.

So instead, 

I ask that you help us all

-- especially those with the power

to make the world a better place --

to walk more closely in love with you

and all that you have made.

+Amen.

***

This morning I had a conversation with Rick, a regular in our Community of Emmanuel who lives in the Hope Mission Shelter a few blocks away. When I commented that he seemed sad, he said, "Yeah, I guess I am. It's just that winter is coming, and winter is hard on us who have no place to live."

In the next weeks, we are planning ways to let the people in power know that leaving people to live in unsanitary shelters by night and on our frozen streets by day is not a viable option. I'll try to remember to post opportunities to help raise awareness here in these moodlings.