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more psalm 3
Day 2 of psalm 3 for lectio. Still on the first few verses, Robert Alter translation: [arggh, difficult to write it in Word Press the with the poetic stanzas--alas!]
More awarenss of the ubiquity of foes; it’s not me, it’s just part of being human. We were wired, our brains that is, to react to foes of all kinds, so the “fight and flight” response, alarm, and all that is a major part of our inner life. Read in the NYTimes today an article about terrorism. The chances of being killed by a terrorist are equivalent to one’s chances of drowning in the toilet. But the fear of terrorism has a discernible, measurable efffect on increased heart disease risk. Even with major terrorist events, more people are likely to die of the effects of the increased fear, which wears out the body faster. So alarm, fear, and things like cortisol released in the body when fear is happening are a big deal. All generated by our inward response to the presence of “foes.”
How personally, I’ve tended to take foes [as in critics, people who are angry-upset with me, etc.; not the right word, but the brain's response is the same]. Wishing I didn’t have any, letting emails or whatever get under my skin. These first few verses repeat “many” in relation to foes. It’s normal to have many. A peaceful acceptance of same ensued in prayer. A strange sense of calm-peace came over me.
“Many are saying of my life: ‘No rescue for him through God.’” How many times–it’s a pastor thing–people make and verbalize assessments about one’s standing or correct thinking or lack of it before God. Not frequently, but over years of pastoring, steadily. Like the person who recently told me I was deceived. It’s an occupational hazard because as a pastor wittingly or unwittingly you’re setting yourself up as an example or model of God connection. Not saying it’s good or bad, just that it is.
This too is normal: people making assessments of our standing with God. Some accurate some not. “Many who say of my life”: again, in prayer this morning, a peaceful acceptance of same. This is the way it will be.
“And you, Lord, are a shield for me”: over and over, murmuring or meditating on God as a shield. Meaning, the presence of foes becomes an occasion to know the nearness of God, who, in order to be a shield must come between the foes and one’s heart. Sitting with this calming awareness, that no matter how many foes or how close they may intrude, the shield is closer–stationed between one’s heart and the foes. Image of a leather shield, banged up, marked by the blows aimed at me. Gratitude.
Something, I know, unseemly about speaking of foes–not a topic for polite company as it makes you sound paranoid. Thankfully, the psalms could care less how it looks in polite company and face this common human experience head on. I think this psalm offers a key to happiness: foe management via assurance of a shield nearer to one’s heart than they. Half an hour or so today with these ponderings, giving the brain a chance to strengthen the neural connections of assurance and calm in the face of foes.
January 19th, 2008 at 2:33 pm
But of course our friends are our. Oh. Most troublesome foes. Because they are close enough to use a dagger. To cause some real damage. And they sometimes do.