Hey MJ’s Morning Medications

Psalm 27:1 “The Lord is my light and my salvation. Whom shall I fear? 3 I am confident that God will save me.”

The Psalmist goes on to talk about living and resting in the presence of God each day, being hidden from enemies, placed on a high rock of safety. It sounds to me that he took his morning medication. God formed and shaped him through little creeds; messages of faith, hope and love.

Poppy speaks to me and I speak to Poppy. I turn a burden over and ask for graces for my friends and family. Being “still” is difficult and I’m grateful Poppy knows and accepts me as I am, speaking to me in the way I hear best. I pray, pick up something to read, I begin to write; today’s little creed speaks to me.

Sometimes, off and on throughout the day, I will think of what we were “talking” about. It does not seem that much changes, but when I look far back I see much has changed through Poppy’s light and salvation, as we keep on keeping on.

I am confident in you, Poppy. Whom shall I fear?

Psalm 16:11 “You will show me the path of life. In Your presence is fullness of joy. At your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”

In one of the 12 Steps there is the phrase, “do the next right thing”; a sufficient little dose of medication today.

We can not know always, what path to take, what decision to make that is right for the long run. That’s why I turn my small stone over each morning, asking Poppy to take us, my family and friends, on the right path of life he has planned for us. I know that we are wanderers and take to other paths, but we can trust Poppy to stay close and draw us back when we stray afar, when we get in harms way, when we make mistakes or are just plain stubborn.

I know, because it happens to me a lot and Poppy never leaves me there, is always right by my side. We talk and at last, I allow willingness to overcome worry or whatever Fearling is messing with me.

Poppy wills good things for us, pleasures and fullness of joy. It’s really that simple. When we feel off the path, when troubles and concerns fill our hearts and minds, when we stumble and fall, we can stop where our feet are, take the long pause and seek direction from the still small voice who is near, then act ourselves back home by doing the next right thing. Poppy will figure out the rest.

My left hand is in your right hand, Poppy. My right hand is doing the next right thing. We’re OK.

Psalm 81:6 “I removed the burden from their shoulders: their hands were set free from the basket.”

Henri Nouwen wrote that joy is hidden in pain, and when we share the pain we also share in the joy. I paused over that, realizing that the key word in Henri’s thought is share. In isolation there is only the pain.

I remember a time of personal crisis for myself. I happened to be going to a retreat weekend at that time where our group was given a visualization; a person loaded down with bricks on their back staggered from the heavy burden. Slowly this person became willing to share the load; a brick here and there was given to a trusted friend, a family member, a co-worker, a neighbor. The burden became lighter.

That day, I made the decision to begin talking about where I was personally. Soon, I was standing taller, with my friends and family who were helping to carry my burden. Set free, my joy song returned.

Poppy, why is it that I have to learn that over and over?

Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

On the front cover of this month’s Word Among Us are bold lettered words, “Love Changes Everything.” Jon and I are fresh out of REC 6 where we experienced a powerful flowing river of God’s love within our community. Everything changed in the course of three days, the current being God’s love; intensely redemptive and transforming. Jeremiah 29:11 kept coming up around our table. We marked our bibles and promised to remember Jeremiah 29:11.

On our weekend, one of the residents received word that his 19 year old son had been shot three times while trying to stop a robbery. Our friend was devastated of course, but the added pain of not being able to go to his son was very difficult. Everyone rallied around him and prayer flowed like the current in a powerful river. Later he got more news. Thankfully, three bullets narrowly missed major organs. Though the boy is critical, he is stable.

Things do not always turn out so well. We all know the pain of great loss. God’s word as given to Jeremiah is a root to hang onto when we are hanging off a cliff of grieve or circumstances beyond our control. Our hope? In God’s time, love changes everything.

Poppy, thank you for the great river of redemptive love that changes everything.