Living Psalm 16 – Pentecost 3C

Living Psalms Book

Psalms in the form of words and art, reborn in the specific contexts of our world, privileging the voices of historically marginalized communities and those acting in solidarity with them.

Everything that I am, I am because of you O God.
All the places of my joy and goodness are from you.

And the rest, well…

Protect Me from Myself, my inner cantankerous soul.
Honestly, God, I could bitch all day about how they’re doing it wrong.
Their lifting of bad theologies and stupid governments.
Their cognitive dissonance and general ambivalence.
How they let it get this far.

Some of these bills on the docket, holy shit, God, they TERRIFY me.
Anyway, like I said, Protect Me from Myself, God. (and from those Bills.)
Help me see people as Beloved by You. Even when. (rolls eyes) all that.

I mean, all the reasons why I am who I am, the privileges, the choice points I didn’t have to make, that’s all from You.
I bless you who continuously pushes me to Do My Own Work and use what you’ve given me, Who you’ve created me to be, in service to the liberation of all.

DARE I SAY- you’ve even given me a gift of anxiety. Up all night thinking of how to change the world.
(Help me turn that worry to action, every day.)

I rest in you. Even through all this nonsense. I rest in you, and I can find joy.
I can calm my breathing, slow my heart, believe in Your Goodness.
Join alongside they who show a Way to peace.

You show me that there is hope, that my baby can grow into a world that is even just marginally better.
After all, that’s faith – isn’t it?

Living Psalm for the Pentecost 3C: Psalm 16 was written by Rev. Dr. Chris Davies.

Living Psalms Book is created by UCC Witness & Worship Artists’ Group, a Network of UCC connected artists, activists and ministers bridging the worship and liturgy of the local church with witness and action in the community. Maren Tirabassi, editor

Logo is detail from Living Psalm 80 by Sophia Beardemphl, Redwoods, CA. Recovering from significant bullying, Sophia, age nine, read Psalm 80 and thought of brokenness that needs mending. She drew this broken and mended bowl.

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