Eastertide
May 4, 2022
Scripture Reading: 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.
I tossed and turned when I went to bed last night because a bill in the Oklahoma legislature that would capitate Medicaid health care payments appears to be headed for passage despite all efforts, mine, and others, to stop it. I kept running over and over in my head what else I could have done to prevent its passage. I should note that the final version was much improved over the initial draft. My primary mentor in legislative advocacy had sent me an email that simply said Keep up the fight. I read it again this morning. Then I read my church’s newsletter where my Pastor’s article talked about being barraged with all kinds of communications that are often meaningless and hard to keep straight. He encouraged his readers to stop and take the time to read Psalm 23 and let it guide us through the challenges of our day.
And then there on my computer screen Psalm 23 was listed as the scripture for today.
I, who memorized Psalm 23 early in life from the King James Version, have trouble reading it in the RSVP or any other version for that matter. This morning I did carefully read it as quoted above. I thought that would be helpful as I turn one page of advocacy and start a new chapter.
Prayer: Thank you, God, for mentors and pastors that say what I need to hear whether they knew I needed to hear it at that moment or not. Amen.
All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.