Beauty
Same walk as the other post from this evening. Similar light, similar feelings. But something else from what I read in this morning’s Scripture readings.
Psalm 148 (full text below) is one of those Psalms that is hard to read without wanting to speak it out loud and to have your voice grow and grow as you read it. It is a Psalm that illuminates the breadth of God’s Creation and calls upon every part of that Creation to praise the name of the Lord. It is a stirring song not only of God’s power but also of the beauty and wonder that surrounds us.
Right after I read that Psalm, I read the daily email from Richard Rohr where he was writing about the Navajo people of the American Southwest and the ways that they “see the world through the lens of hozho: all the goodness to be found through harmony, balance, beauty, and blessing.” He then led us to say the following Navajo prayer aloud.
In beauty I walk With beauty before me I walk With beauty behind me I walk With beauty above me I walk With beauty around me I walk It has become beauty again It has become beauty again It has become beauty again It has become beauty again
Beauty all around. Praise the Lord. Yes indeed!
Psalm 148 Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise him in the heights! Praise him, all his angels; praise him, all his host! Praise him, sun and moon; praise him, all you shining stars! Praise him, you highest heavens, and you waters above the heavens! Let them praise the name of the Lord, for he commanded and they were created. He established them forever and ever; he fixed their bounds, which cannot be passed. Praise the Lord from the earth, you sea monsters and all deeps, fire and hail, snow and frost, stormy wind fulfilling his command! Mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars! Wild animals and all cattle, creeping things and flying birds! Kings of the earth and all peoples, princes and all rulers of the earth! Young men and women alike, old and young together! Let them praise the name of the Lord, for his name alone is exalted; his glory is above earth and heaven. He has raised up a horn for his people, praise for all his faithful, for the people of Israel who are close to him. Praise the Lord!