From Kori Zachrison
Today’s psalm – 103 – has brought me inexplicable joy. As David gave me words to praise God and to worship His character, I found myself deeply desiring God’s presence. To be embraced by Him, enveloped by Him, and completely wrapped up in His peace and His love. I picture the way we wrap school-aged kids in blankets like little burritos (you know, before you swing them in the air and let them fly onto the couch) and I want to be that child, with God as that blanket.
One of the prayers in the lectionary has captured this feeling of mine, and I have found myself repeatedly flipping back to it this season:
Christ be with me, Christ within me, Christ behind me, Christ before me, Christ beside me, Christ to win me, Christ to comfort and restore me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ in quiet, Christ in danger, Christ in hearts of all that love me, Christ in mouth of friend and stranger. Amen.
Wrapped in God’s presence, surrounded by my Savior from every direction – abiding in Him. Another psalm has captured this for me recently also. In Psalm 105 we are told to give praise to the Lord and to “glory in his holy name.” I want to bask in His presence, to praise Him, to reflect Him, to rejoice in Him, to be made new in Him and in His resurrection. As I come back to Psalm 103, I am just overwhelmed by His character. To imagine that we have a God who lets me into His presence, who remembers that I am dust (v14), and yet lets me flourish like a flower of the field (v15), basking in His presence, in the warmth of His light, reflecting His beauty. Redeeming my life from the pit and crowning me with love and compassion (v4). To be crowned with his love and compassion – knowing His love, experiencing His love, and feeling its transformative power in my life. And then wearing it as a crown, that those who know me would see His love at work in me, and experience His love through me. As I visualize myself wrapped in His embrace, surrounded by Christ from every side, I imagine all of my interactions with the world filtered through Him. Coming in: may I process my life in His presence, as His beloved daughter, and with a perspective given by Him. And going out: may my words, my actions, and my interactions be refined by Him as I abide in Him. Alleluia Alleluia!
I live in Charlestown, and I love lists. Currently most of my lists are made with the aim of balancing my roles as physician, researcher, friend, wife and mother.