Do not remember against us
the iniquities of our ancestors;
Let your compassion come speedily to meet us,
for we are brought very low.
Help us, O God of our salvation,
for the glory of your name;
Deliver us, and forgive our sins,
for your name's sake.
Then we your people, the flock of your pasture,
will give thanks to you forever;
From generation to generation
we will recount your praise.
Psalm 79:8-9, 13
"Let your compassion come speedily to meet us, for we are brought very low."
It is inevitable on this human journey that there are times when we are indeed "brought very low." Either by action or inaction. Maybe by intention or fate. Perhaps by deliberate acts of non-love or un-truthfulness from one we count on. Sometimes it's a seemingly random act of the universe, or an episode of senseless violence. Maybe a dark and frightening diagnosis, or abiding in the heartbreak of a dear loved one.
In these "very low" times on my own journey I found myself night after night lying on the tiled bathroom floor, curled in a fetal position, face buried, sobbing in a towel. Not sure I could stand up and face the next day.
And somehow, lifted by a force that I could not name at the time, in the morning the body got up, and carried it's wounded spirit and whatever it could collect of it's intellect into the day's work. Made it through another day. Functional. Productive even a bit. Smiled.
As years passed, I came to know that it was God's compassion and grace that pulled me up off of that tile floor and dried my tears. Grace buttoned my jacket and softly whispered, "You can do this. I've got you." God's compassion carries us when we aren't quite able to carry ourselves. We are never alone.
"Let your compassion come speedily to meet us, for we are brought very low."
Perhaps our job is to surrender to the compassion of God. Let go of the need to control, explain, justify, make sense of the times when we are indeed brought very low.
"Let your compassion come speedily to meet us..."
Kim Sanchez Rael
the iniquities of our ancestors;
Let your compassion come speedily to meet us,
for we are brought very low.
Help us, O God of our salvation,
for the glory of your name;
Deliver us, and forgive our sins,
for your name's sake.
Then we your people, the flock of your pasture,
will give thanks to you forever;
From generation to generation
we will recount your praise.
Psalm 79:8-9, 13
"Let your compassion come speedily to meet us, for we are brought very low."
It is inevitable on this human journey that there are times when we are indeed "brought very low." Either by action or inaction. Maybe by intention or fate. Perhaps by deliberate acts of non-love or un-truthfulness from one we count on. Sometimes it's a seemingly random act of the universe, or an episode of senseless violence. Maybe a dark and frightening diagnosis, or abiding in the heartbreak of a dear loved one.
In these "very low" times on my own journey I found myself night after night lying on the tiled bathroom floor, curled in a fetal position, face buried, sobbing in a towel. Not sure I could stand up and face the next day.
And somehow, lifted by a force that I could not name at the time, in the morning the body got up, and carried it's wounded spirit and whatever it could collect of it's intellect into the day's work. Made it through another day. Functional. Productive even a bit. Smiled.
As years passed, I came to know that it was God's compassion and grace that pulled me up off of that tile floor and dried my tears. Grace buttoned my jacket and softly whispered, "You can do this. I've got you." God's compassion carries us when we aren't quite able to carry ourselves. We are never alone.
"Let your compassion come speedily to meet us, for we are brought very low."
Perhaps our job is to surrender to the compassion of God. Let go of the need to control, explain, justify, make sense of the times when we are indeed brought very low.
"Let your compassion come speedily to meet us..."
Kim Sanchez Rael
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