Daily Readings: Psalm 27; Isaiah 4:2-6; Acts 11:1-18

For he (the Lord) will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; he will set me high on a rock. Now is my head lifted up above my enemies all around me, and I will offer in his tent sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing and make melody to the Lord.

Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud, be gracious to me and answer me! “Come,” my heart says, “seek his face!” Your face, Lord, do I seek. Do not hide your face from me. Do not turn your servant away in anger, you who have been my help. Do not cast me off, do not forsake me, O God of my salvation!

If my father and mother forsake me, the Lord will take me up. Teach me your way, O Lord, and lead me on a level path because of my enemies. Do not give me up to the will of my adversaries, for false witnesses have risen against me, and they are breathing violence. Psalm 27:6-12, NRSV

I’ve always thought of this request as something for my own benefit – teach me and lead me on a level path because I have enemies, I am afraid and ill equipped, and need the help. But what if I have it wrong? What if it’s this: teach me your way, O Lord, and lead me on a level path for the sake of/for the benefit of my enemies?

Thanks to Einstein, Bohr, and others, I know that all things in this universe are related, nothing is truly isolated or separate. Could it be that what is for my benefit is also for the benefit of my enemies? If so, then vanquishing my enemies does not mean eradicating or harming them: it means making peace with them, working for their well-being as well as my own. It means becoming allies, friends, and kin.

May both shadow and light guide you to God-With-Us.