Monday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time
"I lift my eyes up to the hill, where does my help come from, my help comes from the Lord, the Maker of Heaven and Earth!" I was able to write those words from memory because every morning my kids can be heard singing those words. While the translation differs from what we find at our link above, the source is the same, Psalm 121. My kids have Psalm 121 memorized at this point, and I think that's awesome. So let's meander around memory and joy.
First, today is a joyful day. Today is mine and Bess's anniversary. There are so many memories and so many joys that have come from these 7 years and the time before we were married. Even more, it is largely Bess who I can thank for helping me find joy in memorizing Scripture. She has helped bring that to our family. Sure I remember the names of Lord of the Rings characters or trivial history tidbits, or (unlike Bess) whether I've seen a movie before without having to rewatch 10 minutes of it. I've always remembered those things, but it was Bess's family that encouraged memorizing Psalm 139 for Lent one year, which I failed at. It was Bess that has been faithful about helping our kids memorize Scripture. And today's Psalm testifies to that importance.
In Psalm 121 we can see memory playing out. The question of where our help comes from arises and we remember God's faithfulness and steadfastness. What a beautiful verse to memorize. One that calls to mind remembering the trust we can put in God. A trust in our God who has carried us through and will continue to care for us.
So as we begin today, maybe you can join my kids in singing today's Psalm. Maybe we can all find joy in memorizing Scripture. As headline after headline catches our attention, can we also keep verse after verse close to our hearts and minds? For if the turmoil around us keeps us awake at night, how much easier will that night be when we call to mind Psalm 121's words that "The Lord neither sleeps nor slumbers."
Lord fill our minds with your word so that in our growing trust of you we can follow where you lead. Whether you lead us into one more year of marriage, or one more day without a loved one, one more victory or one more uphill battle for justice and peace, one more reunion with family or an estranged friend to forgive, one more new adventure or another day of 'normal' we know that "You watch over our coming and our going."
Send us where you will and call us back before we grow weary and we will remember and trust with joy for we know where our help comes from.
- Spencer Hargadon