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Friday, December 28, 2007 Restore us, O God of hosts; Clearly, this psalm was written when all was not well with the people of Israel. It dates from a time when the people were undergoing afflictions. Yet the psalmist is determined to trust in God through it all. As the Interpreter’s Bible Commentary article about Psalm 80 notes those who have prayed Psalm 80 are those who have dared to see and expect the reign of God where others see only chaos. The plea in this psalm -- Lord, let your face shine on us that we might be saved -- has been set to music beautifully by Michael W. Smith. Lord, let your light shine on us. This is our prayer when giving the benediction from Numbers 6:25: ...May the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you..... The psalmist laments you have fed [your people] with the bread of tears; you have made them drink tears by the bowlful. This time of year can be a time of tears for many people. Some churches have “Blue Christmas” services during Advent/Christmas to acknowledge the pain and grief that many feel during the holidays. The “blue” feelings come from missing loved ones who are either deceased or far away and from other losses, including the pain of chronic illness (including depression). One particularly “blue Christmas” for me was the first year I was married. I was happy in my new life with Jim as a United Methodist pastor’s spouse. I was enjoying my work as a part-time minister at a Unitarian Universalist congregation in Eau Claire. Yet, in those days that year between Christmas Day and New Year’s Day, I found myself feeling terribly lonely. I missed my friends back East. I felt displaced having lived in the Boston area for six years. I was still adjusting to life in rural Wisconsin. Alone in “my space” (my office at the end of the spacious parsonage located on the Chippewa River), I cried. I don’t know if there were bowls full of tears, but lots of tears were shed that particular holiday. If you find yourself feeling blue this Christmas, it’s important to allow yourself space to be sad. Be aware as you move through this week of the people around you who also may be feeling blue. And pray Psalm 80, knowing that many of our ancestors in faith have also cried many tears. Yet through it all, along with the psalmist we can be assured that in the end the light of God’s face will be seen again. And we shall be saved. Marianne Cotter
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