Knowing ourselves loved is perhaps the greatest challenge of human existence, made greater by every wound we suffer and inflict on this earth. Today’s Reflection uses an ancient song to draw us back to that sense of our own, wonderful, selves as we exist in the eyes of our Creator.

The Psalms are a collection of songs, prayers, laments and poems found in the Hebrew Bible and falling about midway through the Christian bible. One of the best known is Psalm 139, which is a song of wonder addressed to God, or YAHWEH.

We suggest you spend some time with it, reading it here or listening via the link below:

This Psalm is very personal. It expresses a range of emotion, including perhaps a desire to flee from the love and attention of the God it addresses! How do you feel, as you read and listen to it?

It opens with the suggestion of personal recognition and relationship between the songwriter and his God

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It suggests the possibility of a total, inescapable intimacy that God initiates in the relationship

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It promises inescapable security and regard, a promise that nothing can separate the creature from his creator

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It says that the singer is planned for, wanted, deeply loved forever, regardless of how he feels at any given time

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There is a response of awe and acceptance of this incomprehensibly deep love.

Practice

Try taking each section of the Psalm in turn. Repeating it slowly several times, possibly out loud. Try to hear the songwriter’s voice as well as your own. Allow the words and the feelings they inspire to reach into the depths of your being. What difference, if any, does it make to your outlook today?

Credit to Nat King Cole ‘s Nature Boy for the title of this piece! Do listen to some of Peter’s other music here : )