In the Waiting: Psalm 4

“Why is everyone hungry for more? “More, more,” they say. “More, more.” I have God’s more-than enough, more joy in one ordinary day than they get in all their shopping sprees. At day’s end I’m ready for sound sleep. For you, God, have put my life back together.” (Psalm 4:6-8 The Message)

Somewhere in the Middle

Here we are, once again,
somewhere in the middle:
between the already and the not yet,
between what is and what’s to come.

Emmanuel,
God With Us,
be with us now -
in the waiting and the longing,
the hoping and the praying,
the singing and the silence.

All our little wants loom large as we wait.
The pleasures of “more”
tickle our taste buds
and candy our conscience.

We say you alone are enough,
but how quickly
we are bent right back
toward ourselves -
looking downward,
limping and listing
toward the next best thing.

In this temporary and necessary now,
deliver us from the tyranny of our fancy Pharaohs,
and the bondage of our shiny shackles.

Grant us safe passage
from graves to gardens,
from dead ends to daily bread,
from hostility to humility,
from panic to peace,
from saturation to simplicity,
from restlessness to restoration.

Precious Prince of Peace,
who’s gift of selfless love
makes all things new,
begin with us
as we seek you,
behold you,
adore you,
and abide with you,
now and forevermore.
Amen.