A Modern Day Psalm

As I have been spending more time with the Lord during the Daniel fast, one evening I was watching television not thinking about any of this and the words just came.  I didn’t have a pad and paper so I picked up my phone and started talking it into my phone. This is similar to the prologue in my book, A Student of Life, the words came to me in the same fashion.  I call these, modern-day psalms.    I hope it’s as meaningful to you as it has been to me. Enjoy

A Modern Day Psalm

I love your creation, Lord, because it’s you that I see.  In the wind and rain, I see the movement of your hand.  In the lightning, I see your glory, and in the thunder, I hear the power of your voice.

Never have I imagined a time when your sunshine would no more warm my face and bring joy to my heart.  Never have I imagined not being able to see every color imaginable in the sky and across the land.  I sometimes wonder if there will ever be a time I hear the ocean no more, nor hear the sea gulls fly around squawking, “Me, me, feed me!”

In my older years I’ve felt loss and come to know how temporary life is.  I ask myself, “Why did we hurry around so much? Why didn’t we sit by the ocean more, or sit quietly by a babbling brook.  Why didn’t we spend more time walking in the woods and listening to the birds?”

We all seem to take it for granted.  The time, gone not to be recaptured.  The words never said, the peaceful times, never spent.

Oh, the joy of life, not in the grand moment, but in the little things that are free: time in the sun, sitting on the porch in the rain, watching the waves or listening to all the sounds first thing in the morning with the people we love.

Oh time, I thought you were my friend but you slipped away so quickly and quietly.  Time, you are so rude.  You gave me a glimpse of a long future, then you tricked me into thinking it would be there forever.  Time, you are to God a day is a thousand years but to me it is like sand slipping through my fingers.

All creation sings the songs of the creator with sound, color and glory.  All creation beckons for us to come and enjoy what has been made for us.

Who told us it wasn’t important or precious?  Who lied and said there is something better to go, do and buy?  Who tricked our children into enjoying technology over creation?  Who blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts?  Not you, Lord.

The one I thought was my friend (time) is no respecter of persons, everyone falls for his lies like, “Don’t worry there’s time!”  In the morning, we trust him with our hours and he turns them into only a few worthwhile minutes.  All the years are reduced to short memories amounting to probably less than 40 hours of memorable time for all those years of living. 

What should we make of this?   Make the most of every relationship and time with creation while praising the creator for His handiwork.  For nothing under the sun matters more than these three things, the Lord, people and creation.  There’s nothing as complex, uniquely designed as these.  Nothing as beautiful, nothing that satisfies our souls or the real desires of our hearts as these three things.

How lonely and sad are those whose time was stolen while all their days were filled with manufactured things and awards that will never go beyond the grave.  How sad are those who have few memories of peace, beauty and genuine love.  Whose sum total of their life has no eternal meaning or purpose.  Some never knowing the creators love or the joy of creation. How sad will be the day of darkness, fear and pain when that’s all some will have for eternity.

If time is to be stolen, let us be the first to steal.  Let us be the first to grab it and fight to save what we can.  May we steal moments with meaning and be thieves for life and eternity.  May most of our minutes become hours of purpose and not tears of regret.

May we open our hand to the Lord and say, “Father lead me forward and help me seize the time I have.” May our good memories be ones left behind in others, not kept to ourselves.  May our footprints be a shadow of yours, Lord.  And may all creation continue to welcome many souls to its beauty where they too can find your peace and love until you say time is up.

Prayer

Lord you are willing to speak if we will only listen.  Help us to slow down and give you the time you deserve.  Help us to begin to do what is best for our bodies and our future for this will impact all those around us.  May we always love and respect you and your creation no matter what others are doing.   We love you Lord, in Jesus’ name, amen.

If you are interested, I found this excellent video by a young man that did the Daniel fast.  It’s so worth watching.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HVpg0I2f-Eo

God Bless

Sally