As I was quietly reflecting early this morning, I realized I needed to add one more piece to what I guess is a four part series on perspective. Driving home alone last Friday after dropping Diane off in Yuma, I had several hours to think while navigating the stormy conditions on Interstate 8 over the mountain pass. I knew it was Inauguration Day and that the following day would see numerous demonstrations around the world. After spending some ten days in largely unpopulated areas, immersed in creation’s beauty, I’d be right back in the thick of things, as is always the case.

And, so I felt called to write about the Lord’s Prayer and then to briefly express a sadness and then to write about where we should place our faith and the mistakes people are making. I didn’t know what would be coming next until I did, this morning.

Perhaps all of my writing is about perspective. But, just as I landed on the Lord’s Prayer a few days ago, my mind went to another … perhaps the other most famous piece of scripture, known to Jews and Christians and many who are not but who have attended memorial services: The very brief 23^rd Psalm, attributed to King David.

Pieces of David’s story are very well known while some pieces are less well known. Certainly the picture of the shepherd boy answering God’s call to take on the massive Goliath of the Philistines in a winner-take-all confrontation with extremely high stakes … that picture is pretty well imprinted in our minds. However, that is neither the beginning or anywhere close to the end of his story. David’s story is one of great contrast and great resolution. He is commonly referred to as “a man after God’s own heart.” And, yet, David was severely flawed, a murderer and adulterer. He stands as one of the great leaders in Hebrew history, along with Abraham and Moses. He was both a powerful king, anointed and adored, and a broken man, defeated. He was a warrior and a poet. Interestingly, both Moses and a future great leader of the faith, Saul/Paul, were also murderers. In other words, sinful men. There is a lesson here, one that absolutely should not be missed.

There are 150 Psalms and many of us have spent considerable time exploring their depth. They never disappoint. The one known as the 23^rd is short but covers a lot of ground. It offers us a perspective that is rich, full and promising. It does not shirk the rough stuff and I’m glad about that. Proper perspective has to be real and everything I know about life says that that, ultimately, we have no reason to be either optimistic or pessimistic. A life well lived includes suffering and, hopefully, some measure of joy. Written by a very flawed man who at times lost his way, this psalm also reflects the author’s undying faith and knowledge. I can identify with this man as I believe many of us can. Of course, maybe not to the extremes we read about but when we look inside carefully and honestly, we can’t help but see a battle.

There are all sorts of translations, from the old King James to the modern Message. The one I will use now is the NIV, or New International Version.

The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing.

I think we have a tendency to rush through these kinds of things and fail to pause and try to appreciate the pearls. I spoke of this when addressing the Lord’s Prayer. Commonly, we hear this entire psalm at memorial services as a picture of heaven, encouraging us to recognize that our deceased loved one is in a really, really good place. Not to take away from that, but I think that we should consider the piece as much more expansive and meaningful than that. Its depth speaks to us today and offers us a perspective that should be treasured.

I have a shepherd. I am not alone. I have someone who cares so deeply for me. He provides for my every need. He does not promise that it won’t snow or that there won’t be wolves or bears. But, he promises he will watch over me and he actually knows who I am. While I may be part of a large flock, he will know quickly if I’m lost and he will seek me out. I may be one of  many but I am special. He will fight for me and under his care, I will be nourished.

In fact, in the scheme of things, I really lack nothing. As I mentioned a couple of days ago in the Lord’s Prayer when considering daily bread, my needs are really quite small. David says that as long as he has the Lord as his shepherd, he really does not need anything else. This, from a king. Hypocrite? I think not. As he wrestled with who he was and who God is, he cut to the core and this is his testimony.

I believe as David. However, I also realize I fail to live anywhere close to fully on this core value.

He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul.

Here, David calls out the fact that life is full of chaos, tragedy, sorrow, violence and suffering. Yet, there is an antidote. No, this is not an escape from reality but a recognition that when we’re in the midst of it, we should recall this perspective.

He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside quiet waters. I’m not sure I want to dissect the difference between make and lead. I’m sure there are scholars who have done so and maybe I’ll take the time to research that someday. But, for now, the point is that God brings relief.

I sometimes think of Beethoven’s sixth symphony when I read this part of the psalm. His symphony is entitled the “Pastorale.” I especially like the second movement. I see beautiful landscape, while the weaving together of sound reflects that and my heart is calmed. I see this in paintings and photographs. My mind conjures up images of a meandering stream as it winds its way through a valley, surrounded by banks and greenery, punctuated by wild flowers of all sorts of colors. Also, in the frame are the mountains, majestic, that also stand in relief to the valley and while beautiful, are quite different. They require effort and exertion to navigate and, sometimes great risk and even danger. Not so, down here. Here, there is calm and tranquility. No rage. No torrent. An offering of peace and contentment.

And, yes, this place restores my soul. Because, you know, I have a soul and this soul of mine (and ours) is designed purposefully.

It contains the essence of who we are and how we are meant to be. Maybe some day I’ll write on this thing but for now I just want to recognize that we humans are complicated and pulled in all sorts of directions. This is a reason I’m writing this series. We can let the anger, resentment and self-righteousness grab a foothold. It’s certainly not hard to do. It surrounds us, yells at us, tugs us in. And none of us are immune. But, once it has our attention or even a foothold, we have a choice. Do we want to let it control us, feed us, lead us? Anger turns to spite and even malevolence. It lifts us, carries us and, in the end, consumes us. Resentment poisons our hearts, darkens our life, narrows our vision, blurring or cutting out beauty. Self-righteousness is the polar opposite of actual righteousness although it masquerades as the real thing. It puffs our chests, makes our voice loud and strident. We allow deep forces within us to grab control as we set up walls and all of this turns hearts of flesh into stone. Thus, our souls wither away from neglect and we are lost.

David recognizes this and so, he correctly acknowledges that God’s leading is to a place of refreshment and restoration. We are partners and all we have to do is be willing to be led.

One of the many, many reasons I continue to follow Jesus is my recognition that this reality I’ve been describing, both the challenges and the solutions, is fundamentally truthful. Nothing I’ve seen or experienced in the last dozen years has shifted my perspective a tittle.

He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.

And, as I am led through this restorative place, sometimes lying down in silence and abandonment, sometimes quietly walking, drinking it in, I am guided along the right paths. Because there are “right” paths. And there are wrong paths. Some will say all paths lead to the same place. Respectfully, you are as welcome to your perspective as I am to mine and I don’t believe that to be true. All paths do not lead to the same place. The God I believe in does not lead me on wrong paths. I do plenty of that on my own. I can testify that when I fully surrender, I’ve never been disappointed. I’ve never looked back and thought, “boy, did he lead me inappropriately!” Yes, I have been led by God down difficult paths but he does not fail us when it comes to being the right path. And, while I have not the ability to know God fully in this life, nor perhaps even a small fraction, I do have the ability to know enough about him to know he is real and all I really need to do is ask … to call out his name. David knew this and so do I.

And then, suddenly, we are no longer in Beethoven’s symphony, nor in those idyllic paintings. We are thrust out.

Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

The most commonly read traditional version, says, “through the valley of death.” Regardless, we can see death and darkness as very similar. They are the opposite of life and light. And, sometimes, the light has gone out of our lives and we can only see the pit.

Some, in our materially-wealthy western world will probably say they’ve never seen the pit. They’ve never known something we can call anguish. Life has served up a pretty good dish. While life has at times been challenging, they’ve never known destitution. Never experienced the claws of addiction or violence. Never suffered the loss of a child or a broken marriage, once full of promise. Never lost life’s savings or been out on the street looking for work, month after month and even longer. And, maybe some of these people are so insulated that they haven’t been called in to live closely beside someone who is deeply in this state, asked to participate in the suffering in some measure. Maybe they haven’t spent time working with the destitute … the real poor, the victims of violence and addiction, the prisoners, the hungry. I’m sorry.

For the darkness is real and the pit is a terrible place and it is part of the human condition and I’ll say that no life well lived is isolated from its reality.

And the darkness draws us down and we sense that death in some kind of form is happening or will happen. Evil is at play.

But, says David, and he is so right … even though this is happening, I will not allow myself to be consumed by the ultimate force, the force that is antagonistic to the reality of God. Because I know, in the end, I really have nothing to fear. Yes, life is really, really hard right now but I need not fear. This is a huge deal.

Evil will not own me. Death and darkness can be defeated by the life and light that God provides.

I know many people who have overcome these things and, although they suffered terribly, their faces shine and their hearts are full.

They and I will testify that the shepherd’s rod and staff are the consummate comfort and that they ward off darkness and death and offer space to regenerate and live in the light. While they are actually two different things, they are used to protect and guide the flock. And, sometimes that guidance may not be pleasant as we are “disciplined” given that creatures or children need a firm hand on occasion. But, the intention is clear. So long as we submit to the shepherd with his various means, we know we can find comfort.

And with that we make another turn, maybe deeper into the muck before pulling up and out.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

I used to struggle with the first part of this more so than I do now. I could get how David had enemies. After all, he was a warrior king in violent times in a fiercely tribal part of the world. Of course he had enemies. But, how was I to read this today? In what way do these two sentences speak to me?

But before he mentions enemies, he recognizes that God, the shepherd, has prepared a feast. God has done that for me. For me. A feast. A celebration. Deliverance. Redemption. No matter my failings. No matter my struggles. No matter that I may have done some bad things and I may have regrets … in fact, it’s with the full knowledge that the thing that really matters is that I recognize you are my shepherd. And you invite me to the table. To the feast.

And, yes, it is in the very presence of and with the recognition that I have enemies. Now, our enemies don’t have to be people but they can be. Or they can be people in certain circumstances that are thrust into our path and pull us in ways that are not healthy. We may or may not recognize them as enemies at first but they are. They do not seek our good but to fulfill some desire of their own, consciously or otherwise, that cuts at us. And this cutting can dredge up all sorts of things that can distract us from a place that is restorative of our souls. I have met these enemies and some are very strong and persuasive. I still see them although most people I know would look at me and say I can’t really see where he has enemies.

It’s not too hard to jump from outwardly physical threats to the threats of the interior. Evil is always looking for a foothold. We are a fickle species. God basically has two “commandments” for us … two foundational rules of the game. Anything that distracts us from following these precepts is a potential enemy. David recognized this. Yes, we are in a battle, although this modern or post-modern world may scoff at this idea. Man is not pure, never was and never will be in this world. If we believe there’s not a battle going on, then we have built huge walls to separate us from reality and from authentic life.

But, here’s what God does. In the very moment that we are surrounded by enemies, he prepares for us a feast … a celebration. And, he says, “Look at this! Compare the two! What are you worried about?”

And, he even takes it further.

I have been anointed by oil, a number of times. And, I have anointed others, as well. It’s really a remarkable moment. Yes, it’s a ceremony, a simple symbolic but meaningful act, with a long tradition. Many cultures do it. It says, pause and know that there is something very profound happening. I have learned to carry a very small canister attached to my keychain and it holds a minuscule little bottle of oil. I know others who do likewise.

To be anointed is to symbolize that we are under the care of the divine. The anointment is always accompanied by some sort of blessing, a statement that we are not alone and that we have a shepherd who loves us, regardless of circumstance. Most times, when anointment occurs, the recipient is seated, usually surrounded by others with hands laid on, who have had a chance to pray publicly on behalf of the person. A community recognition of the moment. And the anointer is kneeled in reverence, issuing the blessing, making the mark on the forehead or crown.

The skeptic may scoff and dismiss this as a ritual of wishful thinking. So be it. I have only known deep love in these moments.

Which is how I understand the last phrase: My cup overflows.

While experiencing this degree of love, either in the giving or receiving, the heart is touched deeply and, yes, the cup of goodness overflows. This is in the human context. In the psalm, David is speaking to God. I try to imagine God kneeling in front of me, anointing me and I want to weep.

But, then, I remember that he did. He got on his knees and washed the feet of his followers. He made himself the lowest of them, treated them with kindness and love and, shortly after, was tortured and killed. With this knowledge, how can my cup not overflow?

And, we are brought to the conclusion.

Surely your goodness will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

As I mentioned at the beginning, this psalm is most commonly read at memorial services but as this conclusion clearly reflects, David meant it to include this life. Surely, or Assuredly, or “you can take it to the bank,” God is good and I cannot escape it.

My favorite book as a child was Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown. Diane’s favorite, by the same author, was Runaway Bunny. Both our boys grew up with these two books. I think one of the reasons I never understood God or the concept of unconditional love was that I did not experience the simple message of Runaway Bunny, wherein the mother bunny allows the little one to escape as kids sometimes try to do … but she lets him know she would always follow and never really let him go. I know this to be true after I surrendered. David knew this to be true as he surrendered. And, of course, this is just now and there is such a thing as forever.

We don’t really know how to interpret the house of the Lord. I’ve had glimpses and some understanding of the thing I believe to be true.

In C.S. Lewis’ remarkable seven-book Narnia series, he concludes with a book entitled The Last Battle. Of course, the whole series is a fantasy that speaks to many, many truths. At the very end, the small band passes through the door that separates this life from the next one. And, after ages and ages of adventures, Lewis writes that they are really only about to begin Chapter 1.

So, my perspective is about a promise. A promise that is kept each day and offers an alternative to the reality that most people choose to live under. While the 23rd psalm is of the Old Testament, a thousand years before Jesus, it is clear that he is its fulfillment.

Each day, we are faced with challenges. Some are right in front of us and some are out there somewhere else but we are drawn in. How to filter it all? How to make sense and know what it all means and what to do. I believe it takes Perspective and with that I’ll end.

The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing.

He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul.

He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.

Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

Surely your goodness will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

Amen.