His delight is not in the strength of the horse, nor his pleasure in the speed of a runner; but the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love.” vss. 10-11
Psalm 147:1-11, 20c
We spend an inordinate amount of time worrying about how good we are at stuff. Our culture gives acclaim to those who can golf well or run fast or make bushel baskets full of money. Admittedly it feels good to get accolades from peers for our accomplishments, and if we can set records or get our names in the paper all the better. We love to get recognized for our achievements–even if it’s only a gold watch at our retirement party. It’s what life is all about–or is it? The psalmist certainly wouldn’t agree. He says that all those skills we spend so much time polishing, all the brownie points we get from our peers, all those things so valued by society–none of that is of any interest to the Lord. If he’s right, then our spiritual connections to the Divine will be the prime focus of our lives. Those who immerse themselves in the steadfast love of the Lord will know deep satisfaction even if they never win a race or get the highest score on a test. That love draws us out of our self-absorption and into a deeper level of existence, one that is not contingent on the ups and downs of our personal stories and experiences. We’ll have joy always, even if we never win a thing!
Thought for the Day: What’s my greatest accomplishment?
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