mini-reflection

Psalm 40

Posted by

0

“I did not withhold my words.” (40:10)

The Psalmist might say with regret, “I did not withhold my words and I regret having said things that I cannot unsay.” In this case he has damaged relationships so his words were better left unsaid. He might say with a sigh of futility, “I did not withhold my words, but I am glad that I spoke truth to power, even though nothing has changed.” He feels good and might have a positive influence on bystanders. Or he might say with a sense of accomplishment, “I did not withhold my words and the person or organization I was addressing has changed because of what I said,” effecting positive change. Before you open your mouth, consider in which category your words are likely to fall.

Psalm 39

Posted by

0

“No one endures longer than but a breath.” (39:6)

Compared to the tens of thousands of years of modern human history, the life of any individual is no more than a moment. In the scheme of human history, our individual troubles are transitory and trivial. This doesn’t mean that our suffering isn’t real, but it does mean that we should contextualize it with the question, ‘how much is my pain today going to matter in 100 or 1,000 years?’ When you get frustrated and feel compelled to strike out, first take a deep breath and let it out slowly. Do this five times, ten times, or twenty times, until the urge to strike has passed. You now have the proper mindset to decide whether and how you should take action.

Psalm 38

Posted by

1

“I walk about in gloom all day long.” (38:7)

Winnie the Pooh’s friend Eeyore is a poster child, as it were, for depression. He is sometimes portrayed, in the spirit of the Li’l Abner character Joe Btfsplk, going about with a rain cloud over his head. Normal dips of unhappiness can be banished by adopting a smile or a good attitude and perhaps by devoting yourself to service of others. The rain cloud of clinical depression, however, can’t be chased away simply by pretending it isn’t there. There is no shame in seeking help in dispersing clouds of gloom that linger, week after week, and that interfere with your ability to engage in normal living activities.

Psalm 37

Posted by

1

“The humble shall inherit the earth.” (37:11)

In the short run, the kind of assertiveness that edges towards arrogance gets results, but one can get the same results from being confidently humble. An example: An arrogant person will push his way to the front of a group of people to get what he wants before another who has been waiting longer. A confidently humble person will recognize those who have been waiting and let them go first and insert himself into the queue in the proper order. The arrogant person cultivates resentment and fear; the humble person cultivates love and respect.

Psalm 36

Posted by

1

Psalm 36

“He does not reject evil.” (36:5)

It is not enough to passively avoid evil. If your friends are doing bad things and you close your eyes, you become a party to it. Shetika k’hoda’ah dama’i, silence is the equivalent of consent. As the great parliamentarian, political philosopher, and statesman Edmund Burke said, “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good [people*] to do nothing.” If you hear a racist/sexist/homophobic joke, the only acceptable response is to reprove the teller. You don’t need to shout. You need only to clearly and calmly state your objection.

*actual quotation, “men”