A Pilgrim’s Psalm
How clearly the sky reveals God’s glory!
This rock on which I rest shows your strength, O Lord.
The warmth and heat of the sun reveal your radiating light.
The gentle breeze—a breath of coolness to lessen the heat—what relief!
The freshly plowed field has a fragrance all its own.
It reminds me of the power buried deep within it.
And how a seed must die to give forth life.
Lord, you climaxed my wilderness day when suddenly there darted two fawns before my gaze.
Their gracefulness was breathtaking as they quickly disappeared into the wilderness.
I climbed up the steep footpath and almost touched the treetops and the clouds
As I stood there breathless in awe of your Splendor and majesty.
Humbly I proclaim my praise to you, Lord, as a butterfly flitted across my path.
Reverently I exalt your power as I watch the trees sway in the sudden breeze
And a thousand leaves perform a merry dance.
Then all is stillness, peace, serenity again.
I don’t know who was more frightened as a rabbit ran for shelter hearing my footsteps.
And there was the playful squirrel storing up food for the long winter months ahead.
I listened to the song of the birds chirping their praise to you
As I sang my alleluias to you, Lord.
Ah, vegetation at last—yellow, white, lavender heads to add their color to all the green.
An inspiration came to pluck the daisies and the buttercups for Our Lady’s shrine.
Lord, I have experienced heat and cold…rough pebbles beneath my feet.
I was tested by hunger and thirst, by weariness and sweat.
It was good no one saw me run away from the dozen dragonflies that descended en masse
To attack me but you saved me, Lord.
For you are my protector and Savior.
Theodore Klingseisen, OSF
