O God… Listen to us… Revive us… Restore us… Shine on us… Save us…
One of my seminary professors told us that, no matter what emotion you’re feeling, you can find it somewhere in the book of psalms. No matter how much time has passed between their writing and their reading, the humanity and breadth of the prayerful emotions in the book of Psalms create the threads that weave all who read them together into the tapestry of our faith.
When reading Psalm 80, it feels as if it could have been written today. We hunger for justice as if our bread was only made from tears; we thirst for equality and inclusion as if all we have to drink is salty tears. We look at ourselves in the eyes of the world and think they must be laughing at our failures. We long for the day that we will feel God’s love shining on us, on all creation.
Although tomorrow is the longest night of the year, I know that light is coming. Hope is coming. Joy is coming. Love is coming. In five short days we remind ourselves and the world that Joy was indeed born and lived among us. Trust that God has not forgotten you, the Light of God shines on us, shines through us, and will save us. Let us go and bring light to the darkness today.
O God… Listen to us… Revive us… Restore us… Shine on us… Save us… Amen.
Rev. Julia Wright
Chaplain, Presbytery of Northern New York
Words for Waiting 