Living Psalm 98

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

#Living Psalm 98_Anderson May 5, 2024

By Eric S. Anderson

The song proclaims victorious triumph
visible and audible to all,
a marvel to its witnesses,
a testimony to the might of the Divine.

Are they the victories I’ve known?

I’ve seen ohi’a seeds, the grains of dust
upon the wind, find soil in the rifts
of lava rock. They’ve rooted, raised
their shoots, bloomed incarnadine.

I’ve seen kolea who have made their first
unguided flight across half the Pacific reach
the island where they’ll winter far from the
Alaskan shores on which they broke their shells.

I’ve seen the child, brought by parents to
a crowd of strangers, shrink into her mother’s arms,
then, having found her treasurers, offer them
with beaming smile to these, her new-found friends.

These are the victories I’ve known.

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Living Psalm 98 was written by Eric S. Anderson.

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.