Psalm 40

Read: 

 Psalm 40


¹I waited patiently upon the LORD; *
he stooped to me and heard my cry.
² He lifted me out of the desolate pit, out of the mire and clay; *
he set my feet upon a high cliff and made my footing sure.
³ He put a new song in my mouth,
a song of praise to our God; *
many shall see, and stand in awe,
and put their trust in the LORD.
⁴ Happy are they who trust in the LORD! *
they do not resort to evil spirits or turn to false gods.
⁵ Great things are they that you have done, O LORD my God!
how great your wonders and your plans for us! *
there is none who can be compared with you.
⁶ Oh, that I could make them known and tell them! *
but they are more than I can count.
⁷ In sacrifice and offering you take no pleasure *
(you have given me ears to hear you);
⁸ Burnt-offering and sin-offering you have not required, *
and so I said, "Behold, I come.
⁹ In the roll of the book it is written concerning me: *
'I love to do your will, O my God;
your law is deep in my heart.'"
¹⁰ I proclaimed righteousness in the great congregation; *
behold, I did not restrain my lips;
and that, O LORD, you know.
¹¹ Your righteousness have I not hidden in my heart;
I have spoken of your faithfulness and your deliverance; *
I have not concealed your love and faithfulness from the great congregation.
¹² You are the LORD;
do not withhold your compassion from me; *
let your love and your faithfulness keep me safe for ever,
¹³ For innumerable troubles have crowded upon me;
my sins have overtaken me, and I cannot see; *
they are more in number than the hairs of my head,
and my heart fails me.
¹⁴ Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me; *
O LORD, make haste to help me.
¹⁵Let them be ashamed and altogether dismayed
who seek after my life to destroy it; *
let them draw back and be disgraced who take pleasure in my misfortune.
¹⁶ Let those who say "Aha!" and gloat over me be confounded, *
because they are ashamed.
¹⁷ Let all who seek you rejoice in you and be glad; *
let those who love your salvation continually say,
"Great is the LORD!"
¹⁸ Though I am poor and afflicted, *
the Lord will have regard for me.
¹⁹ You are my helper and my deliverer; *
do not tarry, O my God.

Think:
In 2007, I had never been involved in a single event as a youth or a chaperone on the Diocesan level (other than being an acolyte at the bishop's installation a decade before).  The opportunity came across my desk to chaperone the Senior High Mission Trip to New Orleans.  I wasn't expecting it to change my life so drastically.  I thought, well I'll get to see New Orleans and do some work to rebuild after Katrina and I have 2 weeks vacation to take and my family only has one trip planned so I might as well go.  I am reminded of this because the theme for the week centered on this psalm.  Every night we recited it in our evening prayers, no matter how hot, or tired or dirty we were.  Every night we were reminded of the physical rescuing that took place only a few blocks from the church where we were sleeping on the floor of their parish hall.  Every night we were reminded of our own need to be rescued from the dangers and snares of this life. Every night I learned more about the spiritual life of these 16 teenagers and everynight I was drawn closer to understanding my call to ministry.  It was through them that I was pulled out of my own pit, my own desolate and isolated ministry in the church office.  It was through their inspiration that I left the clerical ministry and went into pastoral ministry, it was through them that God began to show me my skill and talent (which I am still reticent to claim) with working with teens and young adults.  It was because of them that I was able to recognize that the law of the Lord was indeed written upon my hear and I was able to call out to him, and be delivered from my distress. 
Today 6 years, 10 retreats, 3 mission trips, some provincial youth events and a National Youth Event later I am preparing to go on yet another Diocesan Event.  I will sleep on the floor, I will be sore, I will be tired, but I will be refreshed in my call to ministry tomorrow and the day after and the day after, because there is a new crop of teenagers who will learn the scriptures, who will learn about their faith in community in a way that I didn't get the chance to until I was in my late 20's.  Today I remember that I was in the darkness and God saved me.  Today I remember that it wasn't some giant hand from the sky that reached down and scooped me out of the pit, but a series of events which showed me the way into the light, through the seemingly and most unlikely of places, the floor of a parish hall in New Orleans. 


Prayer:


Thank you, God for saving me.  Thank you for sending ministers in all shapes and sizes, ages races and intelligences.  Thank you for loving me and loving all our creation.  Thank you for sending me into the world to extend a hand to those who are in need of help getting out of their own pits.  Amen

Contemplation:

I am sure that I won't have much time for silence today- but I will try to spend time recognizing the gifts and talents of the teens I will be surrounded by tonight.