Excerpt from Psalm 23

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters;

he restores my soul. He leads me in right paths for his name’s sake.

Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff— they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord my whole life long.

Reflection by Donna Schaper

More people know this one by heart than any other—and well they should.  Watching people mumble it at funerals is one of life's great joys.  Maybe you or your children haven't memorized it yet.  You'll want to.

Maybe I can tweet it to you:

"Intention to leave wanting behind: I shall not want.  God, Guide, Green Pastures, Still waters, Souls Restored, Right Paths, then the trouble, the turn.  Enemies arrive.  Dark Valleys abound.  Evil.  There in the trouble, we will not fear.  Not back to the peace but forward to the peace.  Then the Eucharist, the table set up in the wilderness.  Then the overflowing cup after the trouble, after the fearlessness.  Then dwelling in the house of the Lord forever.  Peace then, peace now, joined by peace in the future, right in the middle of the trouble."  Pretty nice.  And I have some characters left.

Prayer

Teach or tweet us, O God, to mumble your words and memorize your peace and always to know that we have some characters, some spaciousness left.  Lead us in the paths beyond cramped, into righteousness.  Amen.

About the Author Donna Schaper is Senior Minister of Judson Memorial Church, New York, New York.

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