One of my favorite courses at Union Presbyterian Seminary was
Introduction to Pastoral Care
. It was a three-hour lecture-based course on Monday afternoons during the fall semester. We wrote countless reflection papers and verbatims as we learned about what it means to be a pastor and were provided skills and suggestions for how to be a pastoral practicing theologian.
Each week, we were required to memorize three verses of Scripture. Our professor provided us with
a list of suggested texts
that were specifically relevant and useful within pastoral care. At the beginning of each class on Monday afternoons, we would write down our 3 verses of the week and turn them into our professor.
Memorizing Scripture may bring some of you back to your early Sunday School days. For others, it may seem like an intimidating ask. The intention of this exercise was to have a reserve of Scripture to provide words for what we may not have words for, especially in moments of great joy and sorrow. While there are many texts to choose from, the Book of Psalms, in particular, provides responses and reflections on a range of emotions that we experience on this earth.
For the past few weeks, Charlie has been leading us through a study of the Psalms. Almost all of these psalms are from the list that we were given that first day of
Introduction to Pastoral Care.
The first psalm that I memorized for this class was Psalm 23. I admittedly already had it memorized, which also made it the obvious pick for week one. The following week, I chose Psalm 121- another familiar psalm. Well, at least the first two verses were very familiar.
1
I lift up my eyes to the hills—
from where will my help come?
2
My help comes from the Lord,
who made heaven and earth.
3
He will not let your foot be moved;
he who keeps you will not slumber.
4
He who keeps Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.
5
The Lord is your keeper;
the Lord is your shade at your right hand.
6
The sun shall not strike you by day,
nor the moon by night.
7
The Lord will keep you from all evil;
he will keep your life.
8
The Lord will keep
your going out and your coming in
from this time on and forevermore.
What stands out to you today as you read Psalm 121?
What does it mean to “lift up my eyes to the hills?”
How would you complete the sentence: “The Lord is ______________”
I’ve been reading a variety of books during this time of physical distancing. I am admittedly someone who will be in the middle of five or six books at a time… which means it takes me a long time to finish one book. One of those books that I’m still in the middle of reading is
Grounded
by Diana Butler Bass
.
She spends a lot of time discussing this idea that God is often thought to be a God in the sky- a being that we look up towards. She challenges this notion, suggesting that we must seek to be grounded in our understanding of ourselves and the God of our own understanding.
I invite you to take out a piece of paper, open a Word document, or simply close your eyes.
Write down, draw, type, or imagine what you see when you think of God.
Where do you look to draw inspiration?
What do you see?
How do you feel?
Do you hear anything?
Smell anything?
Is it colorful or void of color?
Is it too much to try and create within this time and space?
This past Thursday during our lectionary-based gospel study with Rainey, we discussed
J
ohn 14:15-21.
We read about God’s “Advocate”—the Holy Spirit. Instead of seeing a being up above, we have God who walks alongside us.
What would it look like for us to not only lift our eyes to the hills; but also, simply open our eyes to see God right next to us?
I invite you to pray
:
Open the eyes of our hearts, Lord, so that we may see and experience you today. As we look back to the past, into the present, and towards the future, guide us. Comfort us. Grant us peace in this day and always.
Amen
.
