Let Love Lead the Way
Psalm 1:1–3

Happy are those
who do not follow the advice of the wicked
or take the path that sinners tread
or sit in the seat of scoffers,
but their delight is in the law of the Lord,
and on his law they meditate day and night.
They are like trees
planted by streams of water,
which yield their fruit in its season,
and their leaves do not wither.
In all that they do, they prosper.

We hear the Psalmist’s words as we approach the fourth anniversary of the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. It is hard to believe it has been four long years. The pandemic was such a traumatizing time for all of us and it continues to linger. Covid-19 stole many of our loved ones prematurely, and in many cases, the opportunity to pay our proper respects. It took away other things from us that can never be replaced. It revealed and exacerbated disparities in our society. The pandemic robbed our children and young people of developmental stages that continue to create anxiety and mental health challenges.  It stole graduation ceremonies, birthday parties and other landmark celebrations. Our communities still live out the trauma in heightened levels of trauma. 

As people of faith who respond to God’s call to minister in our communities, we hear the Psalmist’s words to not follow the advice of the wicked or take the path of sinners, but to meditate and take delight in God’s Word. When we root ourselves in God’s law the Psalmist promises that we are like “trees planted by streams of water,” which yield fruit and prosper.

Yet as we deal with our own trauma and try to make it through another season, we can forget to take time for ourselves to meditate on God’s Word. Making a quiet space in our busy lives to meditate and receive God’s Word can be challenging. However it is self-care, which is part of God’s commandment to love. It is also a spiritual discipline or what John Wesley would call a means of grace. Jesus said that the greatest commandment is to “love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” And the second is to “love your neighbor as yourself.” Even while we serve our neighbor, the commandment calls us to love ourselves and take time to nurture our soul. This nutrient feeds and strengthens us so that—even as we heal from our trauma-- our leaves will not whither and we will delight and bring fruit “like trees planted by streams of water.” (Psalm 1:3)