A song of ascents

There was a time (in fact, there have been many times) when my external situations combined with my internal mental or emotional turmoil to back me into a corner of confusion.

The one I recall today was a span of two or three years when financial woes were at a peak. I wasn't completely absolved from making some poor choices, but there were other factors beyond my control that were consistently draining what resources I had. Then there were some health factors ... a cancer scare ... and all sorts of eruptions of emotional and mental illness amongst my immediate family members.

Add to all of that the fact that my own spiritual life was at an energetic high... myriad questions about my purpose, my identity, my strengths and my weaknesses. At times there seemed to be a crazed kaleidoscope of questions ... and as I worked harder to sort it all out, the more obscure the answers were...the more muddled the questions became.

One day I was with one of my very practical friends. She was, and is a very down to earth, simple, theologically unsophisticated soul. She listened to me as I said, after sharing with her my total fatigue: "Sometimes, quite honestly, I don't know which way to look. Everywhere I look there seems to be some sort of a mess."

Her answer popped out so easily: "Why, look up!" and she was immediately embarrassed, for she considered herself to be spiritually naive and inept. She flushed and uttered an "Oops, sorry!" She was clearly agitated.

I smile when I think of that moment....what I immediate and profound joy....because my instant response was: "Wow! Thank you! That's it! You are so wise!"

She looked back at me wide eyed...in her typical, down to earth simple innocence, and said: "What'd I say?????" (We continue to laugh about that!)

Sometimes the wisdom of the ages reaches to us through the simplest voices! She was uttering the counsel of the psalmist, even though she had no concrete knowledge of scripture....

Have you ever been served by an unintentional prophet or sage? Give thanks!

Psalm 121 vs.1-8

I lift up my eyes to the hills--
from where will my help come?
My help comes from the Lord,
who made heaven and earth.

He will not let your foot be moved;
he who keeps you will not slumber.
He who keeps Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.

The Lord is your keeper;
the Lord is your shade at your right hand.
The sun shall not strike you by day,
nor the moon by night.

The Lord will keep you from all evil;
he will keep your life.
The Lord will keep
your going out and your coming in
from this time on and forevermore.