Ps 42.2-3, 43.3-4
Any time I think I’m ‘spiritual’ enough, I only need to open the psalms.
“My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?” (Psalms 42.2)
Aiyoh(!), I can’t compete with the psalmist. He actually asks, “When can I go and meet with God?” Un-believable. The closest kind of thing I normally say is,
“When can we go and see Batman Begins?”
He misses God’s presence; I miss my Web connection when I go out of town. He craves for God’s arms; I long for the arms of a comfortable chair at the end of a working day. He longs to hear God’s voice; I long to listen to my favourite CD.
“My tears have been my food day and night, whilst men say to me all day long, ‘Where is your God’?” (Psalms 42.3)
“Send forth your light and your truth, let them guide me…” (Psalms 43.3)
I am nowhere near the psalmist. The psalmist weeps when people mock God; I just look down or try to change the subject. He asks God for more light and truth; I tell myself my “daily readings” once a day (sometimes less) dah cukup la.
“…let them bring me to your holy mountain, to the place where you dwell” (Psalms 43.3)
See there? Still can’t enough of God’s presence. Gotta be where He is. God is an addiction the psalmist can’t seem to get enough of. Me? I’ve got enough trouble trying to out-smart my egoistic indulgent self and its addictions.
“Then will I go to the altar of God, to God, my joy and my delight. I will praise you with the harp, O God, my God. (Psalms 43.4)
What was the psalmist aiming at? What is his ‘goal in life’? It looks like his whole being is pointed towards praising God – that’s his purpose for getting up every morning, that’s the magnet which pulls him on every day. For me, if it’s not my examinations it’s usually my Nama, my Gaya, my Duit, my Badan, whatever boosts Aku the Great. I’ve got lots to learn. May God teach me well.
If you find you’re more like the psalmist, praise be to God! If you find you’re more like yours truly, then praise Him too. For God loves His unfinished works of love. Just ask Him to keep molding you. Always.
(Meditation above From Alwyn with thorough Malaysian flavoring!)
My response:
For God loves His unfinished works of love this is indeed a piece of Gospel-good-news for me. It’s when we see how “unfinished” we are that our hearts are cracked open for his molding and nurturing. There are times when we think “Oh, he’s finished doing some stuff in this phase of my life”. And very quickly, the next “unfinished” business crops up. When will it end? Perhaps, another question might help, What is God up to? how is all this connecting me to the bigger story of God’s story especially glaring at me this Lenten season in the life of Christ. These days, I’m capturing every moment possible to dwell in the presence of the one who said, “It is finished!” That helps me deal with my “unfinishedness” knowing whom I’m holding on to, or better who is holding me.
