“Don’t get upset over evildoers; don’t be jealous of those who do wrong,
because they will fade fast, like grass; they will wither like green vegetables.
Trust the Lord and do good; live in the land, and farm faithfulness.”
Psalm 37:1-3, CEB 

This Sunday’s Lectionary texts include Psalm 37:1-11, 39-40.  I commend the whole Psalm to you as the Psalmist surely has some wisdom to offer.  We have begun discussing the Lectionary texts during our Tuesday morning Zoom Bible Study.  So Psalm 37 has been on my mind this week.

What it brought to mind is that sometimes it is helpful to take the long view.  Of course we can and should be in the moment and pay attention to all that is occurring. Being present helps us to focus and not be so distracted.  The truth is that minutes turn into hours turn into days turn into months turn into years in our lives!  Sometimes parents reflect (about raising children) that the days are long, but the years are short.

Change is inevitable. 
Time marches on. 
We tend to know this deep down.

Though if we challenge ourselves to not be mired in the dualism of either/or thinking and us versus them mentalities, then we realize that our perspectives expand. 
We see what is right in front of us and what lies beyond us. 
The days are long, and the years are short.  

We know that God is God, and we are not. 
We remember that people and institutions come and go. 
Though trusting in God helps us get through it all. 

Perhaps that’s part of why this Sunday’s Psalm is especially touching. 
The Psalmist instructed us to trust God and do good. 
Trusting God does not mean that we have no part to play in helping to make the world a better place. 
Though doing good in the absence of deep and abiding trust in God is what can lead to burnout and heartbreak, wondering what it’s all for anyway?

What are we to do? 
Trust God.
Do good.
Live in the land. Farm faithfulness. 
Some ancient wisdom to ponder this week.

Love,
Pastor Lauren 

Photo by Adrien Gonin on Unsplash

Thursday Thoughts 2/20/25