Are We Ready? How Deep Do Our Roots Grow?
They are like trees planted by streams of water,
bearing fruit in due season, with leaves that do not wither;
everything they do shall prosper.
Psalm 1:3
This psalm is the inspiration for the song, We shall not be moved.
Just like the tree standing by the water,
we shall not be moved.Who are these who are so stable, so sure?
Happy are they who have not walked in the counsel of the wicked,
nor lingered in the way of sinners,
nor sat in the seats of the scornful!
Their delight is in the law of the Lord,
and they meditate on his law day and night. vv. 1-2They contrast with the wicked who are like chaff which the wind blows away.
But it’s not just the wicked who are blown by the wind, whose resolve dissolves when things get difficult. We see that. We see politicians who make speeches in opposition to laws and then cast their votes in favor.
Now let it be said that we don’t know how strong that wind was. But it is sad to observe, all the same. And a cautionary note about how strong that wind might blow.
So it raises the question, how strong is our own resolve? Will we be able to stand? Or will we be moved?
The tree by the water has resources and roots that dive deep. Take a lesson from the Civil Rights Movement. Before they went out to sit ins or marches, they prayed. They prayed for two hours, and sang. And before that they trained. They practiced their nonviolent response to attack.
Members of the peace movement planned. Parents arranged child care in the event of arrest.
What are our resources? How deep do our roots grow? It might be wise to take inventory and to be ready.
A community: the active support kind
A story: a context of meaning
A history: a way to understand our place in a larger struggle
A vision: something that we are for, that we move toward
A prayer: a call to a force beyond ourselves
And songs, always the songs
The daily office is part of my training program. And this writing. I need to add more music to my program.
What about you?