Good morning…
“This is last night at 9 pm,” said the heading above the photo taken by my ‘soul friend’ from her front porch in Norway. The lingering patches of snow. The grounded boat dreaming of summer. The wrapped up car protected from harshness. The modest homes nestled beside the water. The mystical mountain range touched by a rich mixture of wispy clouds and setting sun.
I thought, “What a gorgeous way to end a normal day.”
Then I opened my next email to read the weekly chaplain’s message written by my husband, Steve. That challenging day he would be a part of the service celebrating the life of a beloved former Lovett student. Steve offered an important perspective as he headed into a holy day of remembering.
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The Lovett School chaplain’s message for April 10th, 2023 by Rev. Steve Allen based on Psalm 118:24
Every week, the Lovett chapels begin with these familiar words, “This is the Day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:24. It’s a sweet way to begin a service; it’s one of our lectionary readings for the week and it’s a great biblical truth. I fear, however, that we’ve lost sight of its meaning, sort of like when someone says “God bless You” after a sneeze. I’m not sure we even know why we do that. (Note: a sneeze was thought to expel one’s soul from their body. “God Bless You” was said as protection from the devil snatching the soul, once expelled). Similarly, “This is the Day…” has so much more meaning than is called to mind when we repeat it mindlessly by rote.
“This is the day that the Lord has made,” reminds us that every day is a day handcrafted by God. It isn’t saying that the Lord makes some days and not others.
“This is the day that the Lord has made,” is just as true on days when our kids do something that make us proud as when they do something we really wish they hadn’t.
If it’s true that every day is a day that the Lord has made then it’s just as true on the day when you decide to leave your job and trust that there is something better for you out there, as it was on the day when you first got that job.
If today is a day that the Lord has made then we need to remember that this is as true for us when we get bad news as it is when we get the good.
If God is the creator of every day, then God is just as much a part of the day that someone said something hurtful to you as when you were praised with words of recognition and support.
If it’s true that every day is a day that the Lord has made, then that includes the day that you give birth to a newborn as well as the day you painfully miscarry.
If every day is a day that the Lord has made then it was just as true on Good Friday, when Jesus was crucified, as it was on Easter Sunday when he was raised from the dead. On both days God was sovereign and in control.
And yet, despite all these reminders, if you’re simply not feeling it, if you’re finding that this is a day in which you cannot rejoice, if the pain is too hard and the news too difficult to bear, we’re called to remember that sometimes the Psalms are meant to be aspirational. By that I mean they’re meant to hold out hope that no matter what is going on, rejoicing and being glad will yet again be possible. If not right at this moment, then at some point in the future, rejoicing will happen again. In fact, the message of Easter reminds us that no matter how hard things are on Friday, Sunday is on the way; resurrection is possible and hope will win in the end.
Whatever is going on for you, may you know that this is the day that the Lord has made, and may you try your best to rejoice and be glad in it.
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I personally wake to a slow-paced day, calm on the calendar, but heavy in my heart as I prayerfully ponder the pain of many. “This is the day that the Lord has made,” Steve’s message reminds. This is the day God has handcrafted for us. Might we try to find small, simple ways to rejoice and to be glad in this unique day set before us?
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit (1 Thessalonians 5:16-19, ESV).
Rejoice. Pray. Give thanks. Don’t quench. This is the will of God for all of us, on this the day the Lord has made.
…Sue…
P.S. Another ‘soul friend’ texted: “Today’s message was just what I needed!!! Thank you and thank Steve.” Then she shared an image, visually echoing God’s truth. This is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you, for me, for every person breathing this day.
