Good Morning, God!
I was going through my drafts on my email — basically emails that hadn’t been sent — and I found this email to myself. It’s a riff on Being a Tree as in Psalm One.
Psalm One — what does it mean to be a tree of life?
I loved the leaves never withering and the bearing fruit in its season but then my thoughts made it down to the Roots of these trees.
Commandments as roots? Here are MY favorite commandments.
- Bless bless don’t curse. Cursing is an extreme form of judgment And it clogs our capillaries
- Offer up the sacrifice of praise First fruits of lips that name Jesus as Lord — praise is Trust made audible — the opposite of despair — an antidote to fear.
- Confess your sins/shortfalls one to another that you may be healed Sharing — hearing and being heard is powerful when just humans listen. How much more when God listens. And That kind of sharing strengthens the body of Christ
- Weep with those who weep and rejoice with those who rejoice — this is the Power of being with one another. And again it strengthens the community — the body of Christ.
- Pray for those who despite fully use you — if your enemy is thirsty give him to drink. Ah, that is the effect of prolonged prayer! We begin to see with God’s eyes and that changes everything — especially us.
- Care for the orphan, widow and stranger in your midst — that is seeing Jesus in the Least — and are we not all one of the Least?
I thought but what sort of image for this riff? Images of real roots? And then I saw an image of a map of Singapore — taken when we visited– and realized Your Commandments God, are to help us find our way in Life. Help us navigate. Help us live more love filled lives. Help us be more fruitfully human.
Story teller,
A Moment with God 
LOTS of food for thought here, Margie! I do have to point out that some of us are much better at reading maps (and following the directions) than others! True in life too, of course!
Some other musings:
One of the first things I remember about you, way back at Stanford, is how empathetic you have ALWAYS been – not such a common trait! When I had something happy to share, you were joyful – for me! And when something was wrong, there you were, SINCERELY sympathetic! Still so true! Still such a blessing!!
And SHARING one’s own inner life, warts and all – how much stronger the bonds of fellowship become. Friday morning, after Bible study, while waiting to go to a farewell luncheon for a departing member, one of the women told us (at my request) something about her blended family, and, though she didn’t mean this to be a revelation of strength and courage (just the facts, ma’am!), it certainly was! This is the same person who calls us her “sisters in Christ,” – and means it!
Blessing and not cursing – so true – so hard to do – so well worth constantly TRYING to do! (Especially in the Trumpian era?!)
And trusting in the Lord: even when things seem to be woefully WRONG – having faith that IN THE END we are all in God’s hands, and “all shall be well…and all shall be well…and all manner of things shall be well.”
MUCH, much love, Lani
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