When Lament Turns into a Call

 "...I will see the goodness of the Lord 

in the land of the living." 

(Psalm 27:13)

A personal psalm of an aching heart.

Based on Psalm 27:13

“I am still confident of this: 

    I will see the goodness of the Lord

    in the land of the living.” (Ps. 27:13)

I want to see your goodness, Lord.

    I need to see your goodness.

I watch the news, and it isn’t good.

    It’s ugly. 

I want to see your goodness, Lord.

    I need to see your goodness.

Ukraine is under attack

    from a cruel and wicked foe.

Her people are targets

    of missiles and bombs.

I want to see your goodness, Lord.

    I need to see your goodness.

Politicians and leaders have become agents of division.

They point the finger and wag the tongue,

    they care only for themselves 

    and for those who nod in approval.

Your people have sown seeds of hatred,

    and we have reaped harvests of

        injustice

        racism

        inequity

        distrust.

Civility and respect have been lost.

    Gone.

    Vanished from the landscape.

I want to see your goodness, Lord.

    I need to see your goodness.

Sickness assails the bodies of your people,

    and insidious dementia slowly 

    steals their brilliant minds.

Death robs us of those we love dearly,

    and leaves us overwhelmed with grief.

I want to see your goodness, Lord. 

    I need to see your goodness.

Selah*

Thus says the Lord, 

    the One for whose goodness you wait:

“You, who want to see my goodness,

    do something about it!

"Show my goodness to my people.

    Bear witness to my lovingkindness.

“Welcome the refugees from Ukraine,

    and other nations,

    or support those who do.**

“Show my goodness to my people.

    Bear witness to my lovingkindness.

“Do not answer evil with evil,

    but answer evil with good.

Answer the hatred and incivility

    with the fruit of My Spirit:

        Love

        Joy

        Peace

        Patience

        Kindness

        Goodness

        Faithfulness

        Gentleness

        Self-control

for against such things 

    there is no law. 

“Show my goodness to my people.

    Bear witness to my lovingkindness.

“Visit the sick,

    and thus offer them comfort and peace.

Walk with those whose minds are failing,

    do not let them walk their journey alone.

Go to those who mourn,

    and share my mercy with them.

“Show my goodness to my people.

    Bear witness to my lovingkindness.”

Selah

I am still confident of this:

    I will see the goodness of the Lord

    in the land of the living.

And I will show the goodness of the Lord

    to all who are living.

*Selah is thought to be a poetic pause in the psalms, calling us to stop for a moment and reflect on the word.

**My cousin and his family who live in Germany have opened their home to a Ukrainian woman, and her son and her sister. If you would like to offer support to them, let me know, and I will try to help you make that connection.