Reading Together
Lydia Mulkey
March 15, 2022
In her book, Pleading, Praying, Cursing: Conversing with God through the Psalms, Irene Nowell says, “You can go in your room and close the door, but by the end of whatever Psalm you pray, we will all be in there with you.”
I think I know exactly what she means. These ancient words of my spiritual ancestors were prayed over me in the womb, spoken to me throughout my childhood, and studied diligently in my adulthood. They give me my sense of belonging. When I pray the words of the Psalmist, “Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord,” I am praying with the Psalmist and I am praying with every person who has ever prayed those words. I am adding my voice and I am writing my additions to the story of our faith.
We read scripture for so many reasons, but today, I read to connect to our ancestors in the faith. I read to know that whatever I am feeling, I am not alone. I read to remember that this life is a shared journey.
Pray: God of ancient words, we add our voices to the echoes of our ancestors as we read, sing, and pray the sacred texts. Grant us our place in your developing story. Amen.
