Eastertide
April 26, 2023
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.
Finding the right paths in life is one of our greatest challenges. Of course, we must decide the big thing, like what we would do with our lives. Sometimes though, the small things we do complicate our lives the most. Several years ago, a good friend and co-worker suddenly started avoiding me and seemed offended about something. I asked if something was wrong. She said no and walked away. A few months later, she came into my office almost in tears. Someone had told her a lie about me, I never knew what it was, that hurt her to her core. She had learned from a reliable source that what she was told was untrue. She came to apologize for believing what she was told in the first place. We reconciled our relationship, but it was never the same.
I have found this particularly in interpersonal relationships, but also in how we understand ourselves; having a close relationship with God where we share our troubles, and plan our actions, and reactions, makes us better able to find the right path before we step out in faith to do the right thing.
Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for your wise counsel in finding the right path in all we do and say. 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.