Lectio Divina – Wednesday 6nov24 – Scripture Reading

Psalm 9:9 The LORD is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.

Lectio – words that stood out for me at first reading

– stronghold / refuge (NRSV)

Meditatio – personal application

– I’m safe in a stronghold. Safe from outside things. Yeah. And I’m still me with my inside enemies? Or am I totally okay and it’s only outside things I let in that are harmful? Hmmmm

As usual my meditation is stifled by having to acknowledge that Psalm 9 has stuff in it that I have trouble with – The wicked shall depart to Sheol, all the nations that forget God. And I wondered if the writer was warning us about the USA – The nations have sunk in the pit that they made; in the net that they hid has their own foot been caught. The LORD has made himself known, he has executed judgment; the wicked are snared in the work of their own hands. And despite my wondering about the psalmist’s theology and what suffering the influence of the 47th president will cause I was almost surprised that vs. 9 caught my eye, heart and soul in that familiar Lectio Divina invitation … “meditate on these words’’: The LORD is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble” and ignore the rest – for now. Distractions, distractions.

The LORD is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.

Initially I pictured a stronghold, like the old log forts they build, that keeps out bad things and bad people. Good stuff inside and bad stuff outside. That image made me feel safe from all that outside bad stuff. Being in the stronghold, with the good stuff gave me the impression that somehow I was good too. Which was a bit hard to take because I know how imperfect I am. And maybe Love sees me differently. Maybe James Finely is correct when he says that God is crazy in love with me and my very existence is proof of that. God loves me – just the way I am and thinks I’m OK, dare I say “good” and keeps me safe. Cool.

As I continued to think about being in a stronghold and being part of the goodness of reality which is sustained by Love, I wondered if I could let bad things in. Sometimes the things I watch on TV or read aren’t very life affirming, MI6 and CIA aren’t really Love orientated organizations. I’m pretty sure the violence and deceit I allow into my mind by watching those shows, doesn’t help me love my enemy. So maybe I can let bad things into my fortress of safety and goodness. I can choose to leave the stronghold for some strange reason. While outside the protection of the stronghold I can do bad things which aren’t good for me and get hurt. I might even be trying to good things, outside the protection and bad “things” hurt me. That suffering seemed redemptive. It didn’t seem right  to hide in the stronghold…white privilege and all. Anyway those thoughts were a good reminder to be diligent and aware of what I bring into the stronghold. And if I’m outside I need to keep track of where that stronghold is and stay close. Even if I’m outside for good reasons and bad things happen and I get hurt, I can always go back to the stronghold the Love built for me, for safety and healing. These thoughts were very encouraging and hopeful to my soul. Thanks be to Love. TBTL

Then my meditation then took an interesting turn … which I have to attribute to grace and Love cause I’m not sure my mind would ever go there on it’s own. I was invited to contemplate that maybe I am the safe, good stronghold. I know it’s a bit of leap of logic and because Lectio Divina is listeningwiththeearofmyheart it sounded plausible and maybe even true. I know I was created by Love to love and so maybe I can be a stronghold of love. So as a stronghold I am “safe” from bad things, unless I let them in. That’s pretty cool, if you ask me.

Love then gifted me with the thoughts that no matter what’s happening around me, including growing fascism to the south, I’m safe. Even if I’m oppressed, made fun of or ignored or misunderstood. I’m OK. Even if I suffer because of my own weaknesses, aging or whatever. I’m OK. Even coping with anticipated times of trouble – which are no doubt coming – I’m OK. I can still be loving to immigrants – no matter their religion or skin color. I can love and accept LBGTQ+ folk, even in my faith community. I can respond positively to street folk, to those ignorant of white privilege. No matter what or who comes my way, I am a stronghold, created and sustained by Love. I am OK and can make choices that are for the good of others, no matter my own questions or concerns. Sorta like loving them.

This thinking reminded me what I “heard” from Victor Frankl, writing out of his experience in a Nazi concentration camp in Man’s Search for Meaning, “The experiences of camp life show that man does have a choice of action. … There were enough examples, often of a heroic nature, which proved that apathy could be overcome, irritability suppressed. Man can preserve a vestige of spiritual freedom, of independence of mind, even in such terrible conditions of psychic and physical stress. We who lived in concentration camps can remember the men who walked through the huts comforting others, giving away their last piece of bread. They may have been few in numbers, but they offer sufficient proof that everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms – to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way. …. It is this spiritual freedom – which cannot be taken away – that makes life meaningful and purposeful.” p.65-68.

This sounds a bit too good to be true, but such is the love of the Creator. She says I’m a stronghold of love which means I get to choose how I will respond to the troubles and oppression that is all around. That’s encouraging and challenging. Makes life interesting and encourages me that I have something to look forward to, something to offer, even in my 70s. TBTL

Oratorio – prayer

– thank you Love for your continued encouragement that I’m OK and you are looking after me. Thanks that me being OK can contribute some peace and stability to the world which sure needs it. With your help I can be that peace and stability that others need. May I have the courage and awareness to do my part. Help me stay close to you, Love and learn to ignore distractions. Please help me to learn to listenwiththeearofyourheart, which I know will enable me to choose the Jesus / Love way, easier and quicker despite my fears and questions. Thanks.

Contemplatio – Centering prayer

– scriptures from app: Lectionary – Common Worship: Services and Prayers for the Church of England, Church House Publishing, Aimer. NRSV is used for scripture except for Psalms which are translations from 2000 Common Worship psalter.