O Lord, I am not proud; * I have no haughty looks. 2 I do not occupy myself with great matters, * or with things that are too hard for me.3 But I still my soul and make it quiet, like a child upon its mother’s breast; * my soul is quieted within me. 4 O Israel, wait upon the Lord, * from this time forth for evermore. Psalm 131

As I read this psalm as part of the Daily Office, I could not get past it. The other 2 psalms went unread. I remembered a time, not so long ago. I had to learn this psalm and recite it in the King James Version. I was told to observe and reflect. This is truly a reflective psalm. It seems like something I should say every day and maybe that is why we had to learn it. Unfortunately the gift of recitation is not mine. I unfortunately reinterpret everything and so I have my own version of most passages. The essence I hope I keep.

There is a saying speak it into being. This psalm speaks in the present tense. It affirms who we ought to be even as we know we are not this person. If each verse had a checkbox beside it. I could honestly and without reservation say that I am not proud nor haughty. Pride, prideful, self importance, arrogance, conceit, stuck up, are not words that can be used to describe me. I am a very down to earth person. I tend sometimes to be very liberal and accepting of situations that most others would frown on. But, God made us all and we each have a conscience. we know right and wrong. It may be my job to point out the error of your ways. it is not my job to be judge and jury deciding your fate or punishment.

There is a prayer that says: God grant me the wisdom to know the difference between the things I can, and cannot change. Many times I do not believe I know the difference. I am the person who will stick her head in places others would not. I will intervene in things that others turn a blind eye to. I couldn’t check the box that says: “I do not occupy myself with great matters, or with things that are too hard for me.’ I’ll stand alone, if I believe what I am saying to be true, even in the face of danger. But is that a good thing? Yes but. Looking at the world around me, very few people do that, especially when they are a ‘small fry’ in a large sea of fish. Is it right? Should we be sticking our necks out?

We live in a world where anything goes. Those with money and the loudest voices are heard and deferred to. This causes much suffering and frustration. In homes, in schools, at workplaces, there is the sense in which persons feel as if they do not count and what they contribute is not of value. This constant state of frustration and flux lead many to have mental disorders. It causes both the perpetrator and sufferer to become numb to the feelings of others. Frustration turns to anger. Many times, those suffering do not even know what they are angry about. I also believe, that others, who see the satisfaction anger gives, mimic this response . It appears as if it is a good and proper thing to do.

Verse 3 and 4 says we must be still and quiet. We must wait on the Lord. Our attitude should be like a child who has not yet been weaned. Such a child is dependent while at the same time taking time to learn about their surroundings what they can and cannot do. They expect guidance and care. They expect the others around them to give them attention. Isn’t this what we all ask from others? Isn’t this treating others as you want to be treated. We are invited to do the same

The stillness and quiet stands for so much more than just being still. As a child there was a TV show called Kungfu, in which a Shoalin monk comes to America searching for his brother. His demeanor was a soul at peace. His martial arts skills was used to defend the innocent and the abused. He was powerful in mind and physical tactics, but it never showed. It was not something that looking at him you would see or even sense. I do believe it is this kind of stillness and calm spirit the psalm refers to. As we go through today let us read the psalm as an affirmation and prayer.

Let us pray
O Lord, we are not proud. We have no haughty looks. We do not occupy ourselves with great matters, or with things that are too hard for me. But we still our soul and make it quiet, like a child upon its mother’s breast; Our souls are quieted within us. Enable us to be. Amen