We need to care - without fretting. 

We need to accept our anger - without sinning. 

We need to take action - without doing evil.

We need to stand up - without dehumanizing ourselves or others. 

We need to do right - without doing wrong. 

Before we cross the finish line – I can see it from here! – in the home stretch of our Psalm 5k, I want to look over my shoulder. Not to see who is coming behind me, not to measure my pace by the speed of my opponent, but to consider my own race these (more than) 5000 words. 

I faced a few temptations in this Psalms 5k:

•	Give up.
•	Push the other guy out of the race.
•	Demand too much of myself.
•	Pretend I was running faster than I am.
•	Denigrate my skills as unworthy of the race.
•	Get mad at myself for saying the same thing different ways.
•	Fear the reaction of the crowd to my uneven gait.

Each time I was faced with a temptation, in one way or another, I prayed for more grace to finish the race.

Giving up would gain me what? 
An ice cream cone (triple scoop, please) as a consolation prize? I can still get the scoops, even if I finish. Might as well finish!

Pushing the other guy would gain me what? 
An bad attitude and a poor reputation.

Demanding too much of myself would gain me what? 
A broken spirit when I couldn’t live up to my own expectations.

Pretending would gain me what? 
A falsified front and a lot of explaining to do.

Denigrating my skills would gain me what? 
An empty page, a race unrun, or run poorly.

Getting mad at myself for repetitious steps would gain me what? 
A laugh! What is a race but putting the same feet one ahead of another in a different place in the same shoes?

Fearing reactions would gain me what? 
A reinforcement of fretting and prioritizing the wrong master. 

So I kept on running, 
kept on writing, 
kept on repetitiously 
reminding myself
not to fret about 
not fretting. 
I kept on speaking my piece 
and keeping my peace, 
knowing when I lost my cool 
(a time or two)
I hadn’t lost my Savior’s care, 
I simply need to be more 
cognizant of it.

And here we are, the finale flags waving, the finish line just words away, the wrap-up ready to be wrapped up in victory tape! 

While we celebrate, training for the next marathon has already begun. 

Subscribe to join us in the book of the Matthew, 
     which is coming up right after I ice my feet – uh, fingers.

Remember how Psalm 37 began? With fretting, anxiety, envy, grief, wrath, and anger, all of which are mental health issues. 

As humans, we may not all have a mental health illness, 
but as humans we all have mental health issues. 

Notice that Psalm 37 begins with our issues, not our opponents', adversaries', or rivals'. (By “our” I mean those who are walking in The Way, led by Christ our Savior and Shepherd.)

Why would God start with our aches and angst, ending with the finality of those who cling to evil? 

Because He wants us to know that He does see, and He will bring evil to an end eternally, if not always temporally. 

Temporal, earthly, natural consequences, however, are also a known risk. So He warns us out of love, as any good parent would do:

“Refrain, let go, fret not… 
lest you be moved to do evil.”
Psalm 37:8

If we stay in our fretting, anxiety, envy, grief, wrath, and anger we may very well step into the wrong camp, “moved to do evil” ourselves, and may face similar natural consequences. Even though our eternal fate is sealed by faith in the cross alone, an invitation open to all who will believe. 

In our deep distress, 
we can easily be 
pulled into the very 
direction we want 
deliverance from. 

Better to walk in The Way,
to learn the tools of wellness,
than to face the darkness alone.


“For the arms of the ungodly shall be broken, 
but the Lᴏʀᴅ upholds the righteous.”
Psalm 37:17

A desert woman, 
baking bread over a kitchen 
fire on her dirt floor, 
child walking mile for water, 
mismatched clothes, 
bare feet for all, 
that's little. 

Compare (and strive)
for prosperity’s riches demanding 
change that our pockets 
may be lined 
- often debt simply rises – 
given
opportunity 
to adjust our vision. 

Has insecurity of self 
led us to fight for more 
than our morality 
can wisely manage? 

Having much 
isn't the problem. 

Having little 
isn't the solution. 

Little and much 
are not useful scales 
when it comes to the state 
of a soul. 

     (nor to the soul 
          of the state) 

“The little that the righteous has 
is better than great riches of the ungodly”
Psalm 37: 16

This is where it gets tricky: 
plotting, gnashing, laughing, 
drawing, bending, casting, 
slaying… 

Oof. 
Sounds like world news. 

Is there ever a time for war? 
Yes. 
Yes, of course, 
there is. 

But we must be 
careful when we go 
to war and 
over what. 

Our sword 
through their hearts 
may be double-edged 
and boomerang 
right back into ours. 



“The ungodly plot against the just 
and gnash at them with their teeth.
The Lord shall laugh at them in scorn, 
for he sees that their day is coming.
The ungodly have drawn out the sword and have bent their bow 
to cast down the poor and needy, and to slay those who walk aright.
Their sword shall go through their own heart, 
and their bow shall be broken.”
Psalm 37: 12-15

People tried to make me meek-spirited,
to break me like a Shakespearean shrew. 

They tried pressuring me, guilting me, 
manipulating me, gaslighting me, 
and threatening me. 

They demanded 
that I be meek-spirited
…like them. 

I tried, 
I tried so hard 
to be meek-spirited
…like them. 

And I did it. 
For a time,
I became spirited 
…like them. 

My body and mind 
shifted to please them, 
to be
…like them. 

But meek isn't mean.
Meek isn’t manipulative. 

I didn't want to be meek 
if it meant I had to be mean
if it meant I had to be manipulative. 

I wanted 
- and still seek – 
the fruit of the Spirit:
strength in meekness 
without meanness
without manipulation.

No denial necessary: 
Boundaries still a thing,
truth still a thing, 
because
sin is still a thing, 
evil is still a thing. 

Might we seek Him
who is truly meek 
that we might learn to be 
…like Him: 
meekness without meanness
meekness without manipulation. 

I am still too much
…like me
so I continue
to pant for the water 
like a deer in the desert.



“But the meek-spirited shall possess the land 
and shall be refreshed with an abundance of peace.”
Psalm 37: 11

Transitions are the toughest. Whether it is the transition between packing and arriving at a train station for an adventure, or the transition from a full house to an empty nest, or the decluttering process to make space to breathe, transition invites anxiety. 

Transitions have unknowns and mysteries and opportunities for oopses. 

Sometimes waiting for the transition is painful. We like what is familiar…until we don't. We have an idea what it will be like in the next phase and we. want. to. be. there. now. 

But we have to wait. The train doesn't come on our schedule. The kids don't grow up on our timetable. The decluttering process is a series of layered decisions over time. 

And ungodliness doesn't disappear on our command. There is a waiting. And the waiting can be tough. 

The Quiet Thing Out Loud

Yes, I said it. I said the quiet thing out loud because God says the quiet thing out loud. Ungodliness isn’t going to be around forever and ever. There will be a comeuppance.

Before we get gleeful that they'll be outta here and we'll have the earth to ourselves, we might want to look at our own agenda, behavior, and thought life.

How godly are we? How qualified are we to stay around? Are we really “all that and heaven too”? Can we honestly look into the reflecting pool of God's Word and say, “Yah, I'm one of the Good Guys?” 

Even if we pass a skewed Good Guy test, can we pass the As Holy as God test? A test of perfection?

Unless we have 
“Redeemed Solely by the Blood of Christ” 
stamped on our souls 
we're not qualified
to be a Good Enough Guy. 

And if what separates those Sticking Around 
from those who will be Outta Here 
is dependent alone 
on the work of Christ at the cross, 
then why are we boasting 
that we're all that? 

He's all that. And if we’re with Him, it’s solely by His mercy and grace. 

And everyone can be with Him, too. The invitation is still open. We can’t hide the stamps and toss the remaining invites in the bin.

But one day, 
like a train of adventure bound 
for elsewhere, 
or a young child grown up, 
or a beloved vase donated 
in a burst of decluttering… 

"Yet a little while, 
and the ungodly shall be clean gone; 
you shall look for their place, 
and they shall not be there."
Psalm 37: 10

And that will be a glorious, yet deeply sad day. 

Most would agree that the consequences of heartache and pain will not be missed, the absence even celebrated (though we may disagree on which ungodly causes need sweeping away).

But still there is a belovedness 
to each soul that will be missed, 
even if that is 
only the loss 
of possibilities unrealized, 
grieved 
when the whistle blows, 
and the trumpet sounds. 

There is just 
TOO MUCH 
random growth
in the wrong spot 
at the wrong time 
in too many areas of life. 

Waiting patiently for our sanctification (change into fruitful beings) 
and 
waiting patiently for change in others 
requires keeping our focus on the Lord, 
not on the temporal shifts of earthly priorities
telling us which evils we should be rooting out today.

Whose land do we want to inherit after all? 


"For evildoers shall be rooted out, 
but those who wait patiently 
for the Lᴏʀᴅ, 
they shall inherit the land."
Psalm 37:9

*(we don’t have a gas line)

A platter of pastries walks towards us, 
we reach, we refrain. 
Acknowledging temptation, 
we choose not to accept the invitation
to indulge. 

Bookshelves overflow, 
tomes spilling onto floor, 
creating tripping hazards, 
bruising toes. 
No longer serving us, 
we serve them. 
Acknowledging the past, 
we choose to let them go. 

The candle lit, 
we've done our social good 
to improve the atmosphere, 
yet we hold the match 
as it continues to burn. 
Almost out, 
we add another match 
keeping the flame lit, 
add another, another, 
our fingers blistered, 
our lungs charred. 
We shake awake,
acknowledging the pain 
we are causing ourselves 
     and others, 
we blow it out, 
not burning ourselves up, 
we fret not. 

If wrath were pastries, 
If anger were books, 
If fret was fire. 

In our lack of restraint 
In our cluttered temper
In our burning anxiety

Would we … 

Refrain from wrath, 
Let go of anger, 
Fret not ourselves. 

If wrath were pastries, 
If anger were books, 
If fret was fire. 

"Refrain from wrath, 
and let go of anger; 
fret not yourself, 
lest you be moved to do evil.
Psalm 37:8

(I struggle)

I care less for how the politics go,
and more about who we the people become.

If we must do wrong to do right,
who have we become?

If we must lie to tell the truth,
who have we become?

If we must harm a person to protect an idea,
who have we become?

If we must deceive to expose,
who have we become?

If we must denigrate to rise up,
who have we become?

If we must wink to see,
who have we become?

If we must pretend to be real,
who have we become?

If we must bully to serve,
who have we become?

If we must cave to stand,
who have we become?

-----------------------------------
Who are we, we the people?
Who are we becoming?
-----------------------------------


"Refrain from wrath,
and let go of anger;
fret not yourself,
lest you be moved to do evil."
Psalm 37:8

Be Still (our soul) wriggles, 
sitting cross-legged on the stage, 
slightly pouting, 
and the waiting begins. 

Each worry that surfaces in Be Still 
is placed at the feet of Before the Lord, 
an offering, a hope that He Who 
Has the Power will use it on our behalf. 

Wait Patiently cautiously peeks 
from behind the curtain, 
glances nervously at Be Still, 
smiles shyly toward Before the Lord, 
and tiptoes toward center stage, 
arms outstretched to hold back 
the weighty curtain of concealment 
should it attempt 
to shut down 
the moment 
unexpectedly. 

Grief tries to leap on the stage from the orchestra pit horn ablaze at every injustice experienced and observed ending in a 
 m  o  a  n  f  u  l           
      d  i   r  g  e. 

A gentle flute 
- of Prayer - 
rises from the depths 
soothing the tearful groan. 

Wait Patiently relaxes her arms. 
Before the Lord bows again, in thankfulness, 
as Be Still slowly rises with the flute's crescendo 
and walks off stage in peace. 


Be still before the Lᴏʀᴅ and wait patiently for him; 
do not grieve yourself 
over the one whose way prospers, 
over the one who carries out evil counsels. 
Psalm 37:7

We screwed up A-a-ron and we need a Savior.
Thank God, He figured that out before we did
and had a plan in place to make it happen. 
Our crimes paid for by the Creator Himself,
when our public defender presents
before the all-knowing judge,
He can honestly say,
“Justice has been served.
I was there when it happened.
I have the wounds to show for it.” 

Justice can be served in the light of noonday,
for the righteousness is not ours of which to boast.

Commit the other guy's way to the Lord
(whether they like it or not)
and make him put his trust in Him
(make him fake it…for you),
and you can make it come to pass.

Wild? Extreme to be harassed, cajoled – dareisay, chiseled - like this? Have we - maybe unwittingly - passed it along because we've been told it's our job as Bible-believing Christians?

My heart aches…for you, for us.

I've had a foot, a mouth, a heart in both camps.
I grieve as a receiver and I regret as one who passed it along. 
They made lists for me, so I made lists, too.

What a relief!
     a comfort!
          a hope! 
Our role is a much lighter burden, 
so light that Jesus calls it: a light burden (1).

Are we putting on ourselves - and each other - heavy burdens that we aren't meant to carry?

Is committing an unwilling soul's way...light?
Is forcing someone to pretend...light?
Is making it all come to pass...light?

We are to be ambassadors - messengers, not prison guards - of reconciliation: God to man in Christ, man to God in Christ (2) through love and study and truth telling and massive doses of the fruit of the Spirit. 

Yet, committing, trusting, making it all happen, that’s not on us…except of our own souls, our own way, our own trust.

“Commit your way unto the Lᴏʀᴅ and put your trust in him, 
and he shall bring it to pass.”
Psalm 37:5

We commit our way.
We put our trust in Him.

We can't control the other guy, the other gal.
We can’t commit him to Him for him.
We can’t put our trust in Him for her.
 
But we are asked to control ourselves - thankfully, with the help of the Holy Spirit (3).

We can... commit our way.

We can... put our trust in the Lord.

We can... wait for Him to bring it to pass.

With the heavy burden, 
lifted shoulders, minds, 
square on Christ's crossbeams,

strength, resources freed
to share wine of redemption, 
through life-giving love and truth
 
rather than spread
energy-sapping angst 
on the bread of life that is to feed us,
as we...
     commit
          trust
               and wait
                    ourselves.

(I struggle)
	

1.	Matthew 11:30
2.	2 Corinthians 5:20 
3.	Galatians 5:23

Where is our delight?
(I struggle)

Do we delight
ourselves
in the Lord?

Do we anti-delight
when others don't conform
to our Lord?

Is our heart's desire
that they live
in our image?

If we replicate ourselves
in them,
would we approve?

Is our heart's desire
found in the space of delight
so 
   generously, 
        graciously,
             openly,
eternally and temporally offered
in the Lord?

Do we truly want others
to know His delights
as we know them?

Do we want to know
them more and deeper
than ever before?

Where is our delight?
(I struggle)


"Delight yourself in the Lᴏʀᴅ,
and he shall give you your heart’s desire."
Psalm 37:4 

“Do good. Let’s just do good. 
If we just do good, all will be well.
Do the good.”
Simple.

“We do good, they do evil.
We do good by stopping their evil.
Stop the evil.”
Simple.

“Dwell in the land. Let’s just dwell in the land.
It’s our land, take their land.
Occupy our land.”
Simple.

“We dwell, they go to hell.
We stand, they leave the land.
Take a stand.”
Simple.

“Surely we’ll feed, let's just gobble with greed.
We get to eat, it’s our birthright.
Eat the fruit.”
Simple.

“We eat, they retreat.
We gorge, they heel.
Feed ourselves.”
Simple.

Do good.   Dwell in the land.   Surely fed.

Did we miss something?


“Put your trust in the Lᴏʀᴅ, 
and do good; 
dwell in the land,
and surely you shall be fed.”
Psalm 37: 3

What happens to 
     our doing,
          our dwelling,
               our feeding,
when we put our trust in the Lord?
Simple? 

Do we envy the hospitalized, bodies decaying, 
hospice to be called?
Oh, we may, 
if we tire of life, wishing 
to move on.

We may long for care, 
Flowers, nursing staff help,
Family well wishes, cards, shared memories.

Yet in the eyes of the pained
is little to envy, 
few frets to compare.

Do we envy tumultuous, raging people
noxious and hurtful?
Oh, we may, 
if we tire of life, wishing 
to move on.

We may long for fame,
Applause, latex cascades,
Sycophant well wishes, gifts, (false?) memories.

Yet in the eyes of the noxious,
is little to envy, 
few frets to compare.

Hospice of a different ward. 
Soon, too, dried like the grass,
withered as the green herb.

And where will our fret and envy be then? 



"Don't worry about the wicked or envy those who do wrong. 
For like grass, they soon fade away. 
Like spring flowers, they soon wither."
Psalm 37:1-2 NLT

A poetic response to Psalm 37...

Wrath toward the wrathful 
     is yet wrath.

Anger at the angry 
     is still anger.

Fretting about the fretful 
     remains fret.

Evil done 
     because evil is done 
     is still evil.


Peace while others rage 
     is yet peace.

Peace while others seethe 
     is still peace.

Peace while others chafe 
     remains peace.

Peace 
     while others go astray
     is still peace.


Moving towards evil
     in response to evil 
     is the evil we desire to avoid. 
     (I struggle)
     God, help us. 


Moving towards peace 
     in response to evil
     is the stillness we desire to seek.
     (I struggle)
     Lord, save us. 
 
May we accept your invitation.

Don’t burn yourselves up
because of the tumultuous, raging people
with noxious, hurtful, evil dispositions,

   and

don’t be jealous
of the other guy
     (whichever side we’re on, there’s an other guy),
who is the doer of injustice, wickedness, and iniquity
     (we’re all the other guy in somebody’s eye).

“Do not fret because of evildoers,
Nor be envious of the workers of iniquity.”  
Psalm 37:1

Downright painful 
human attitudes 
exalted as holy.

Disheartening 
lust of flesh,
lust of eyes, 
pride of life 
rise up 
shout: 

"They're wrong!" 
(may be true)

and 

"We're always right!" 
(never true).

Ripped soul
where it reigns, 
scepter of self-righteousness
declares itself king.

Battle so close 
we hear it 

in 
     our 
           own 
                  heart
                           beats.

War in our soul.

The king we wish 
to crown:
ourselves.

Tenor of war drums pound
     in              in
      our 	       our
       own	        own
         ears          voice


Sound converts to image
seeing as we are seen,
fretful, envious.

Father, forgive us...

we are trespassing
(on Your territory)

we forgive
(drumbeats drown our prayers)

those who trespass
(do you not see, God?)

against us...
(against us)
     (against us)
          (against You)



"Fret not yourself because of the ungodly,
neither be envious of those who are evildoers"
Psalm 37:1