A Sunday Reflection - Psalm 23

The Lord is my shepherd,

I shall not be in want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures,

he leads me beside quiet waters,

he restores my soul.

He guides me in paths of righteousness

for his name's sake.

Yea, though I walk

through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil,

for you are with me;

your rod and your staff,

they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me

in the presence of my enemies.

You anoint my head with oil;

my cup overflows.

Surely goodness and mercy will follow me

all the days of my life,

and I will dwell in the house of the Lord

forever.

***

The pantry is empty and the well is dry,

but I need fear neither famine

nor drought.

In quiet joy,

I know my God will provide what I need.

Though temptation screams from without

and my own sin snarls within,

my Good Shepherd

leads me

guides me

prods me

back to his straight path

that no-one may deny him

on account of my wandering.

I rest secure,

even though terror and trouble stalk me

every moment of this precarious life:

cancer and car wrecks,

far-away war and all-too-near hatred.

You stand ready to defend me

at a moment's notice.

You stay the hands of those who wish me harm,

laying a picnic in a battlefield -

so strong are you,

so protected am I.

I'm like the kid in the orchard

whose arms can't contain another apple,

your blessing so far exceeds my capacity to contain it.

You surround me with

goodness

mercy

love

every minute of this broken earthly life

And in the end

I'll dwell with you

in perfect peace

In the end that has no end.