Mind Meld of A Different Kind

PSALM 39
For Jeduthun, the choir director: A psalm of David.
I said to myself, “I will watch what I do
and not sin in what I say.
I will hold my tongue when the ungodly are around me.”
But as I stood there in silence—
not even speaking of good things—
the turmoil within me grew worse.
The more I thought about it, the hotter I got,
igniting a fire of words:
“LORD, remind me how brief my time on earth will be.
Remind me that my days are numbered—
how fleeting my life is.
You have made my life no longer than the width of my hand.
My entire lifetime is just a moment to you;
at best, each of us is but a breath.”
Interlude

We are merely moving shadows,
and all our busy rushing ends in nothing.
We heap up wealth, not knowing who will spend it.
And so, Lord, where do I put my hope?
My only hope is in you.
Rescue me from my rebellion.
Do not let fools mock me. I am silent before you;
I won’t say a word, for my punishment is from you.
But please stop striking me!
I am exhausted by the blows from your hand.
When you discipline us for our sins,
you consume like a moth what is precious to us.
Each of us is but a breath.
Interlude

Hear my prayer, O LORD!
Listen to my cries for help! Don’t ignore my tears.
For I am your guest— a traveler passing through,
as my ancestors were before me.
Leave me alone so I can smile again
before I am gone and exist no more.

Just passing through
I need that reminder today. I won’t be around these part very long. Just as my first 48 years on earth flew by, even more so whatever days are left. Yet today I am wrapped up in settling into a new house, working to make it a home. Yesterday I wrestled with my clothes dryer ventilation hose. Today is about curtains, floor tiles, cleaning windows and more painting. Turning a house into a home, especially one that needs extra TLC, is tiring, stressful work for me.

David’s situation is different. Thank God. But the need is the same. Wrapped up in highly stressful experiences we both need to remind ourselves that we travel this way only on a “guest visa.” We belong to another time and place. Consequently, the most important part of our earthly sojourn must be preparation for that which is truly home.

Both sickness (David’s situation) and moving to a new place (mine) offer opportunities for spiritual self examination, reordering priorities, altering perspectives and assumptions; all of which contribute to preparation for our ultimate destination.

Still, as needful as such experiences are, I share David’s yearning – almost. I don’t blame God for my house into home circumstance. And sickness isn’t God “striking me!” (See Dan’s post yesterday.) But, I too cry, “enough already!”

Remind me Lord, that trying seasons come and go, but you remain faithful. Help me to learn the spiritual lessons I need, in preparation for eternity with you. – Mike Leamon

Stored ammunition
I was listening to a song from a new band last week about being trigger happy. The song referred to our words as bullets and decried the ease with which we pull the trigger and unload a barrage of words on others. The Psalmist tried to sit quietly and follow mom’s advice, “If you can’t say anything nice, say nothing at all.” Eventually, the Psalmist could take it no longer, however, and he burst forth in words.

I can understand the Psalmist’s position. As a pastor, people continually throw words at me about their problems, the church’s problems and my problems. I try to sit quietly and listen while patiently sorting out the real issues from the emotions surrounding the issue, but it is not easy. Normally I can hold my tongue and reply with supportive and understanding words when I am with people who need to vent. It is when I get home that I struggle to hold my tongue.
My wife gets my stored up anger and frustration. I know I should not do it, but the stress of the day too often comes out in a sharp comment to her about something totally irrelevant.

In hindsight, most of the things stressing me out are just as irrelevant as the trivial complaint I snap at my wife about. In view of eternity, stressful details about money, space, time or programs are not all that important. The Psalmist makes a request for God to give him an eternal perspective. I need an eternal perspective as well that will help me view the stress of the day in its proper light.

Lord of eternity, your reach stretches beyond the boundaries of time and your gaze encompasses eternity. I need your outlook on life today in order to avoid stress that leads me to speak words of pain to those I love. Enable me to live today in view of eternity. - Dan Jones