Psalm 23-and-a-Half

The Lord is my shepherd,

     whether I like it or not.

I shall not want.

     Except for a bigger house, a nicer car, a slimmer waistline;

     a newer device, a little more power;

     and to always, always, every day, be right about everything.

He makes me lie down in green pastures

     as the world grays with concrete

     and browns with toxic fumes

          and bleeds with violence and rage.

He leads me beside still waters

                           even though I pull away, and make a run for the choppy sea

     of my own thoughts, complaints, and addictions.

He restores my soul.

     from its own self-inflicted wounds

He leads me in right paths for his name’s sake…

     For his name’s sake,

     even as I celebrate with my own signature.

 Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil;

     even as I log on, tune in, and worship at

          the altar of fearful story

          that we call news.

For you are with me;

          even as the world spins into chaos, crippled by the hatred of other,

Your rod and your staff—they comfort me

     They tell me a better story,

     And call me back to your side.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies

     And ask only that I sit and dine with them.

You anoint my head with oil;

     And call me to live a life worthy of this benediction.

My cup overflows

     With sorrow, with remorse,

     With gratitude.

          Because for all my selfish, wandering, fearful and faithless ways,

     I know that

goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,

     Even now.  Even on the worst day, the worst week, the worst moment

     Of the created, human world.

And I shall dwell in the house of the Lord  my whole life long,

     Singing a new song,

     and telling the Shepherd’s story

     into the darkness.

This piece is recycled from a few years back. It was featured in my church’s Lent devotional book today, so it was on my mind