(Each Saturday, a faith leader offers a personal perspective in this space. To become part of this series, email religion@recorder.com)
The psalmist who prayed Psalm 27 asked his God that he be allowed “to dwell in God’s house all the days of life, to gaze on God’s beauty, and to meditate in God’s temple … AND to be set on a rock, high and out of reach.”
Now, that sounds like a great idea — for God to pick us up out of the chaos and place us on the mountaintop, out of the fray, unreachable from the threats, so we can wallow in the joy of being God’s beloved without hurt or harm. After all, it’s been quite a time.
We have endured over two years of the pandemic experience, which has taken lives and compromised lives; created philosophical and political battlegrounds in living rooms, restaurants and legislative halls; and has significantly shaken and forever altered almost every institution in society. We are witnessing strategic efforts to undermine a just democratic process because people of color have yet to be treated as human beings fully vested with the rights and access of a White-centered culture.
Young people across the country are watching and listening to adults make decisions that restrict their freedom to live, learn, play sports, and love in ways that may not conform to traditional binary expectations, but might unleash healthy, happy, contributing individuals into adulthood. International conflicts initiated by bullies who want to amass the most spoils at any cost have people of all ages literally running for their lives. Economic forces have increased the gap between the haves and have-nots so much that there are now people in Franklin County who are dependent on food pantries and community meals for the first time in their lives and who wouldn’t have survived the winter if it weren’t for the generosity of strangers and shelters.
Most of us don’t dwell on a rock high and out of reach or in a temple free from threats, hurts and harm.
The psalmist doesn’t deny the very real threats to the holy kin-dom in the making, but he does go on to testify to the belief and trust that keep us fueled and focused on the Prevailing Good, Abiding Beauty, and Courageous Perseverance. That is what weaves together a caring circle for Afghan families in Greenfield. That is what serves hundreds of meals at Franklin County Community Meal sites. That is what stocks the “Love in a Backpack” project, providing basic supplies and words of encouragement to those being released from the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office. That is what draws people or their donations to eastern Europe to offer support to fleeing or fighting Ukrainians. That is what small acts of kindness and large gestures of generosity offer everyone who needs help in banishing fear and rising with trust in an Everlasting Hope.
The way to a world transformed by Love isn’t about hunkering down apart from the enemies, armies and wars, but rather about bringing a belief in the Prevailing Good to bear on the toughest questions, greatest pains and steepest challenges.
Echoing the psalmist, I pray.
One thing I ask of you, Yahweh,
one thing I seek:
that I may dwell in your dream
all the days of my life,
to gaze on the beauty you create
to contribute to the beauty you hope for
and to meditate in a sure and confident, even if unseen, hope.
About Second Congregational Church
The Rev. Dr. Susan Tarolli (sltarolli@gmail.com) is the interim minister with Second Congregational Church (SCC) of Greenfield, United Church of Christ, located on Court Square. SCC is a community of seekers, rooted in the Christian faith, equipping themselves — soul, body and mind — to practice God’s love in the world. Communal worship is at 10 a.m. Most Sunday mornings we gather in the sanctuary on Court Square. On the third Sunday of the month, we gather in our Zoom sanctuary. For more information, e-mail or call the church at office@greenfieldsecondchurch.com or 413-774-4355.