A Psalm and a Prayer

I am an admirer of Garrison Keillor and his Prairie Home Companion radio show, heard on Public Radio. I have seen his show live in three locations, The World Theater in St Paul, MN, his home theater, in the Town Hall, NYC, and last summer at Ocean Grove, NJ. Garrison even was a nearby neighbor of mine when I lived in Troy Township, WI, as he lived in the next township just to the south of me. I relate to his sense of humor, outlook on life and to his music.

Last Christmas, when we were visiting Chloe’s brother and family in the Twin Cities, I was thrilled when I heard that Garrison was quietly opening his very first book store located in a trendy neighborhood in St Paul. The buzz was that his store was stocked with books that mainly were his personal recommendations. We made it a priority to fit a visit to his store during our time left there to see what books he offered.

One cold winter day, Chloe and I drove to St Paul with her brother (also a long time Keillor fan) for lunch in a deli in the same building as the book store. After lunch, we went down the stairs and entered the new store, still in the final stages of opening up. Chloe and I quickly started grabbing books of interest to us. Finally we met at the checkout and then decided how many books we really wanted to carry home on the plane and culled the herd, so to speak, to about seven books.

I was happy with my book choices that day but by far my favorite book is “Good Poems for Hard Times” by Keillor. In the introduction (which sold me the book), Keillor’s says “Forget everything you ever read about poetry, it doesn’t matter—poetry is the last preserve of honest speech and the outspoken heart. A person could perish of entertainment, especially comedy, so much of it casually nihilistic, hateful, glittering, cold, and in the end clueless. People in nursing homes die watching late-night television and if I were one of them, I’d be grateful when the darkness descends. Thank God if the pastor comes and offers a psalm and a prayer, and they can attain a glimmer of clarity at the end.”

“A psalm and a prayer”, clear, concise, pure, peaceful, gracious, powerful…that phrase really resonated with me when I read it. This is to a great extent what people want and really need in their hard times. Psalms are songs, God’s poetry for us. When we read psalms to others, God speaks spiritually to them and thereby ministers to their deepest needs. I have been reading Psalms to people in need for the last several months, people in their final days on earth, people with surgeries to repair or replace body components, people who just need a lift. Each time I have read a psalm slowly and prayerfully and then offered a prayer, I have witnessed grace flowing through these words that powerfully brings peace and heals the soul.

Recently, I called on someone who needed a lift. On the drive over, Psalm 27 came to my mind. It is a beautiful promise to us in the form of a poem from God. I share it with you now. May it bring you peace as you read it prayerfully.

Psalm 27 A psalm of David.

1 The Lord is my light and my salvation—
so why should I be afraid?
The Lord is my fortress, protecting me from danger,
so why should I tremble?
2 When evil people come to devour me,
when my enemies and foes attack me,
they will stumble and fall.
3 Though a mighty army surrounds me,
my heart will not be afraid.
Even if I am attacked,
I will remain confident.
4 The one thing I ask of the Lord—
the thing I seek most—
is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,
delighting in the Lord’s perfections
and meditating in his Temple.
5 For he will conceal me there when troubles come;
he will hide me in his sanctuary.
He will place me out of reach on a high rock.
6 Then I will hold my head high
above my enemies who surround me.
At his sanctuary I will offer sacrifices with shouts of joy,
singing and praising the Lord with music.
7 Hear me as I pray, O Lord.
Be merciful and answer me!
8 My heart has heard you say, “Come and talk with me.”
And my heart responds, “Lord, I am coming.”
9 Do not turn your back on me.
Do not reject your servant in anger.
You have always been my helper.
Don’t leave me now; don’t abandon me,
O God of my salvation!
10 Even if my father and mother abandon me,
the Lord will hold me close.
11 Teach me how to live, O Lord.
Lead me along the right path,
for my enemies are waiting for me.
12 Do not let me fall into their hands.
For they accuse me of things I’ve never done;
with every breath they threaten me with violence.
13 Yet I am confident I will see the Lord’s goodness
while I am here in the land of the living.
14 Wait patiently for the Lord.
Be brave and courageous.
Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.