Tuesday, January 9

Celebrate There

Narrative Lectionary Daily Devotions written by Kace Leetch from Clergy Stuff.

Today's psalm celebrates a moment when God's people had been traveling. During David's time (the presumed author of the psalms), enemies were plenty. Life was tough, and their travels were tougher. Whether fleeing from an invading army, or pursuing an enemy, they would have faced many challenges along the way. Something as simple as a river could stop them in their tracks. 

But on this occasion, they were not stopped when they approached a river. God dried up the sea and the people crossed the river on foot. It would have been a welcome reprieve from the struggles they faced. 

A tiny word, "there" struck me today. As soon as they crossed the river, they stopped right there and celebrated God. They didn't wait until they reached their destination. They didn't wait until Sunday. They stopped everything and rejoiced in God.

I'm pretty quirky when it comes to the order of my events. When I clean, for example, I can't clean the bathroom floors until I've cleaned the kitchen floors because it'll save time to do all the floors at the same time. I can't clean the kitchen floors until I clean the counters because crumbs will most definitely fall onto the floor as I tidy up. I can't clean the counters until I do the dishes because the dishes are on the counters. I can't do the dishes until I've had a shower because I don't want to use up all the hot water. I can't take a shower until I clean the bathroom because, well, ew. And round and round it goes.

Now, imagine somewhere in that crazy circle of cleaning I come across an item I thought was lost forever. Do I stop to do a happy dance? Probably not. I just set it somewhere I won't forget this time, and continue to clean. If I did as the psalmist, I might just take a moment to celebrate life's little wins. And maybe my celebration might just remind me I have a lot to celebrate. And maybe those lots of things to celebrate will remind me I have those celebratory things because I have a God who loves me and provides for all my needs. What a different day I might have if I stop to celebrate God right then, and right there!

Narrative Lectionary Text: Psalm 66:6-7

He turned the sea into dry land;
   they passed through the river on foot.
There we rejoiced in him, 
   who rules by his might for ever,
whose eyes keep watch on the nations—
   let the rebellious not exalt themselves.
          Selah