A Blessing For The Journey

During June, we were exploring Psalm 121. It is one of the psalms that is described as the ‘songs of ascents’. These particular psalms would come into their own during times of pilgrimage. As a community would travel together, perhaps to the temple in Jerusalem for example, they would sing these songs together, reminding each other of the goodness of God, and why they were making pilgrimage together in the first place.

As we talked, we imagined lifting up our eyes as a community from our immediate surroundings and problems, and seeking a different perspective. When we do this, a decision in the head demands the eyes to move, and for the head to be lifted up. Other senses can become more alert, and can remind us of who is capable of looking after us. The wisdom and experiences of others as they talked in our group, reminded us that the God powerful and wise enough to create everything around us, near and far, is loving and intimate enough to care for all of our needs.

Our attention then turned to what this ‘round the clock’ care means for us. We all have times of day that we can find difficult. At night time sleep can be scarce or non-existent, and thoughts and dreams can play havoc with our senses. Daytime activities can tire us out mentally, emotionally and physically. Yet the psalm assures us that in our problems, God is with us, before us and behind us- present in everything. As we talked about this someone had an image of a ‘bubble of care’ around the group as we went along. Someone else was imagining God carrying an umbrella, sunscreen and various other things we might need for our journey!

The psalm ends with a promise and a blessing. This blessing is for anyone who finds any time of the day or night difficult, and it encourages us to lift up our heads, eyes and senses, to where our help comes from…

"The Lord will keep

your going out and your coming in

from this time forth and forevermore.

Psalm 121:8