An illustrated autumn Psalm
posted by Tim Nafziger on 10/21/07 at 09:16 PMI spent this weekend at Rock Cut State Park (Ill.) with a few other men from Living Water on a fall retreat. It was a beautiful weekend and the autumn colors were out in all their splendor. During one of our quiet times together, we read a psalm from Psalms for Praying: An Invitation to Wholeness by Nan C. Merril. Her book is a interpretive translation of the Psalms. I hand't read it before, but I was immediately struck by the images she used and how they fit with what I saw around me. Here is Psalm 96, interpreted by Merril, illustrated with photos I took on Saturday:
Psalm 96
O Sing to the Cosmos a new song
sing to the Beloved, all the earth!
Sing to the Creator, and bless the Name
above all names
sing praises to the Glorious One
from day to day.
Declare the splendor of the Radiant One
to all the nations
the marvelous works of Love
to all peoples!
For great is the Beloved, and greatly
to be praised;
reverence Love above all else.
For where your thoughts are,
reveals that which you treasure
seek only the true Treasure.
Truth and integrity live with Love;
strength and beauty dwell
with the Beloved
Yield to Love, O families of the earth,
yield to Love glory and strength!
Yield to Love and learn of justice;
make of yourselves an offering
and be guided by Love!
Bow down in adoration and holiness
for worthy is the Beloved to be
praised in all the earth!
The creator of the Cosmos reigns!
Yes, the world has been created,
gift to all generations
let truth and justice give birth
to peace and harmony
Let the heavens be glad, and let
the earth rejoice
let the seas roar, and all
that fills them;
let the fields, exult, and
everything in them!
Then shall the trees of the wood
sing for joy
before the coming of the Beloved,
who reigns in glory!
For through Love will come truth
and justice
offering all the people gifts
of new Life.
Tim Nafziger is a activist, writer, organizer and web developer. He lives in the Rogers Park neighborhood of Chicago with his wife Charletta where he attends Living Water Community Church. Recently, he helped to start the Young Anabaptist Radicals blog. For more about his life, read his first blog post.
The creator hath very long legs Nice photos