Without Striving

Retreat House Partner Emily Turner Reflects on Psalm 133:1-3.

This Psalm is simple yet it evokes a sense of peace in my soul. It causes me to pause and to reflect on what I have received from God. Without striving, without finagling, the Holy One has given me, given us, so much. Sometimes I notice, sometimes I don't. Sometimes, I'm distracted by the obstacles, by pain, by to-do lists, by envy or worry and fear. When I focus on these things, I can develop a sense of separateness from God. I know it is just a sense, but the "flow" of being in the Spirit can feel far.

The Psalmist describes the oil - it starts at the top of Aaron's head, running down his beard then over the collar of his robes. He is covered by this oil, this blessing, this anointing.  The oil even reaches to the mountains of Zion. It is expansive. 

Restoration, provision, relationship. If I look closely I can see the ways in which the Lord has cleansed areas of my life with blessing - with oil.  Freedom, creativity, love.

Yet, our world is not expansive now, we are confined by pandemic life with an unknowing of what is to be. But blessing still glistens like the oil if we open our souls to receive. Like the oil falling to the mountains - our blessings can expand to others, they can unify us in thought and action. They can heal us. 

Remember a place you experienced recently where God ordained the blessing of life for you and others. Consider your senses - what do you see, hear, smell, feel, taste?  How do you see this blessing others? What is God teaching you?

As we encounter the heat of the summer, perhaps we feel dry, overheated, tired - what blessing might God be wanting us to receive? Are we noticing? What areas of both your body and life need the moisture, the refreshment of oil? I wonder where God wants to unify us with ourselves, each other, our world?

May we have the eyes to see and ears to hear. Amen.

Emily Turner is a Trained Spiritual Director and Covenant Partner of Retreat House.

LIsten to Rev. Dr. Lil Smith's Guided Meditation for Praying the Lectionary for Psalm 133:1-3

Invitation

As you experience the practice of praying the lectionary, adopt a loving, caring and compassionate stance. If the end of your prayer and meditation time is not pointing to love and hope, there is more work to do. Keep wrestling. God is faithful to your journey. Love and hope will emerge. Be gentle with yourself and befriend any judgment that arises in you.

This excerpt was taken from a weekly meditation. To sign up to receive these, email us.