Psalm 105:1-6, 37-45

Pentecost + 14 - Year A

Psalm 105:1-6, 37-45

Thank goodness for selective memory. Here we have a memory of the end results of some very difficult times. The psalm would have to be four times longer were the circumstances leading to such positive outcomes to be reported.

As you look back on previous haunting experiences, is your focus on the difficult moments or the final way through?

A psalm could be constructed to only cry out for a difficulty faced. It would start a new category of a complaint psalm. Even laments have a turn or action involved that begins to redeem a time of difficulty. A question is whether complaint only would be valuable. In like manner, we might ask whether a psalm of rejoicing only has value.

As with most of life it is the moments of transition that are key. Hopefully you can learn from past transitions and can see the beginning of a next transition even as the difficulty of the moment continues.

I doubt that we will get around selective memory and intentional revision, but it is helpful, from time to time, to look at what we are remembering and how that shapes where we head. This past week gave opportunity to do that regarding a national event - September 11, 2001 - that we cover-up with the short-hand 9/11 used to remember the difficulty without ever having to find the better way through.

This might be a good time to do another timeline of how long you think you have been working this time. What might a transition be that would get you out of a complaint oriented approach to working or hungering?