Psalm 8 When In A Pickle

Pickles aren't all bad although they're hard on us of course;
Picking selves up off the floor is hard amidst remorse;
We would rather lick our wounds and wallow in our pain;
Feeling sorry for ourselves does not a future gain.

Often there’s a load of debt from efforts at the last,
Taking errors we have made to future from our past;
It's so hard to start again despite what we may know –
“Life is good”, “it works for all, and bids us courage show”.

"Always keep some seed at home to start again", they say;
"Do not risk home-quarter – there you'll start another day";
"Homes are safe, so you can rest and plan another round,
Drinking cocoa, eating popcorn – solace there is found."

Problem is a home can be a stronghold in your life –
Shelter for some twisted way which fosters future strife;
Attitudes and spirits which got bent along the way,
Lurk within the shadows of the places where we stay.

We don't see them working there for it’s familiar ground,
(Fifty feet from our front door is where familiar's found);
Often outside eyes can see but we don't let them in,
Somehow we're afraid they'll see our twisted little sin.

More important, can we see what needs to be addressed?
"Showing folks" is not an option in their place of rest;
They must "see"; the question is, "Can we refresh their eyes?"
If we can, then they will see – address what they despise.

Pickles aren't the only way to bring refreshment there,
Holidays, and younger children, shift us from despair;
Shock and awe at nature's glory jolt our eyes awake;
Then there's stopping, really looking, at some spoon or plate.

Set the timer, fifteen minutes, do not shift your gaze
From some object, any object, (most familiar pays);
We get bored in six or seven minutes by the clock,
Then the magic sweeps us forward from our routine walk.

Suddenly we're swept from ‘function’ (home of daily grind),
To a world of unseen beauty, artists call "design" –
Little spots and shapes jump out, while curves new meaning take;
Joy erupts as we perceive new pictures in those shapes.

That's the jolt that helps us see in shadows of our home,
Twisted spirits of our past which all around us roam;
Once we see one thing afresh, a candle's in the dark –
Helps us see all life around us; shifts from stop to start.

Often doing "One thing different" (if we make the change),
Shifts the other factors ’round till life's rearranged;
Outside helpers speed the process – calm, assure, perceive,
Till we're back up on our feet, and from our past take leave.

Psalmist speaks his praise to God for seeing what's around;
Trouble is, we do not see, or hear within the sound;
Then he comments on our seeing – ways we see again;
Seeing is so critical, when pickles we must end.

navigation