Praying Psalm 23

I shall not want
I have been reading and reflecting on the topic of trust. Do I trust God or do I withhold my faith in God? I have the tendency to withdraw my trust when under stress, or when I feel threatened by the turmoil of life's demands. I do the opposite of what the author of this psalm affirms, to allow God to guide me. Perhaps it is in letting go and of emptying myself of the need to be in control I allow God to fill me with wisdom and I do not want.

The Lord is my shepherd Psalm 23

Growing up in rural Massachusetts I was connected to the land in so many ways, I liked playing outdoors in the forest that surrounded my home in the summer cause it was cool and shady. The pine needles could be bundled up and made great forts to hide in. The winter snow provided slippery runs for sliding, and the summers were a time to go to the lake and swim.
I don't know if it is because I grew up loving the outdoors that I love the Psalm, or if it was the message that comforted me,maybe it was both. And it is a Psalm I never get tired of hearing, the words work into my soul in new ways each time I turn to these words. And even those who do not attend church now, are familar with the assurances present in these few short sentences. "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want". I am still living into the promises found in Psalm 23.

Luke 24: 41

Luke 24:41 "While in their joy they were disbelieving and still wondering"
Wow, can I really be in joy of seeing Jesus yet still disbelieve? Can I pray and offer all my burdens yet hold on to them? Can I worship with thanksgiving, yet still hold on to the pains I have suffered? The disciples had seen the hands and feet of their resurrected Lord and Master yet they still wondered, is this really Jesus? I admit I too often can miss the presence of Jesus in my life, if I am too self centered, too self absorbed and too full of hurt. Letting go and Letting God is a pilgrimage I take every day, discovering anew the presence of Jesus in life and how to witness to this.

The Art of Pilgrimage: The seeker's guide to Making Travel Sacred

For those of you starting to make summer plans for traveling, I highly recommend the book: The Art of Pilgrimage by Phil Cousineau. It is a easy accessible book that you have to read slow, with a journal and camera or sketchbook in hand. I am using this book as a year long companion, and have been using the theme Following the Prince of Peace as my theme for church worship for the year as well. Each season focuses on parts of the pilgrimage we take as we read the lectionary, and the seasons of the year. For anyone who wants to make their journey more thoughtful, more meaningful, I would hope you would pick up this book, and perhaps invite a few of your friends to read along with you!

"With deepening of focus, keen preparation, attention to the path below our feet, and respect for the destination at hand, it is possible to transform even the most ordinary trip into a sacred journey, a pilgrimage". (page xxiii)