October 20, 2021

Scripture Reading: Psalm 126

When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion,
   we were like those who dream.
Then our mouth was filled with laughter,
   and our tongue with shouts of joy;
then it was said among the nations,
   ‘The Lord has done great things for them.’
The Lord has done great things for us,
   and we rejoiced.

Restore our fortunes, O Lord,
   like the watercourses in the Negeb.
May those who sow in tears
   reap with shouts of joy.
Those who go out weeping,
   bearing the seed for sowing,
shall come home with shouts of joy,
   carrying their sheaves.

How do we get off this rollercoaster? The Lord restores us, but we do not seem to possess the ability to keep that status. We strive for more wealth, more power until we find ourselves once again in need of God’s restoration. Sometimes I think God’s Kingdom will not be realized until we learn to recognize and be satisfied with what is good for us.  The ways of the world blind us to what is just for all and righteous. Once we get out of balance with justice, societies crumble from within. The song Satisfied Mind* describes this well.

How many times have
You heard someone say
If I had his money
I could do things my way

But little they know
That it’s so hard to find
One rich man in ten
With a satisfied mind*

Prayer: Lord, remove the veil the world castes over our vision, allowing us to see what really is in our best interest and the best interest of all your children. Amen.

*The first two verses of Satisfied Mind by Red Hays and Jack Rhodes lyrics © Carlin America Inc see at https://www.google.com/search?q=satisfied+mind+lyrics&rlz=1C1CHZN_enUS922US922&oq=satisfied+mind+lyrics&aqs=chrome..69i57j0i512l5j0i22i30l4.9037j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

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.