Today’s scripture: Psalm 126 The Message (MSG)

A Pilgrim Song

 It seemed like a dream, too good to be true

    when God returned Zion’s exiles.

We laughed, we sang

    we couldn’t believe our good fortune.

We were the talk of the nations—

    “God was wonderful to them!”

God was wonderful to us;

   we are one happy people.

And now, God, do it again—

    bring rains to our drought-stricken lives

So those who planted their crops in despair

    will shout hurrahs at the harvest,

So those who went off with heavy heart

     will come home laughing, with armloads of blessing.

Yesterday was a full day.  I got up and did my morning check the email, write the devotional, get ready for the day type of thing and then I was off to my guitar lesson. Last summer I was talking to Mike at church.  He plays guitar (and the organ) and I mentioned that I would love to learn how to play someday. I have the guitar. It was given to me by my parents when I was in high school or college…a while ago.  Mike pondered that for a while and in November as he came through the communion line he said, “10am. Monday. my house. Bring the guitar.” This is what has really launched my guitar playing career. I am still halting but I am coming along. And when I feel really frustrated I pretend I am a rockstar for just a few seconds. Mike is the perfect teacher…he puts up with the questions, the halting chords and the occasional rockstar moments. I think I look like this…

But I probably look more like…

We switched to Thursdays a few weeks ago so I was off to guitar.  Our goal is that I can play some songs for camp this summer.  So with my Godsongs in one hand and guitar in the other, I walked into the house.

When I arrive, Mike always makes me a cup of tea (in his collection Ginger Peach is my favorite).  We started talking about our crazy weeks.  Mike has a passion for restoration. He restores cars, clocks, and organs…and probably anything else he can get his hands on.  We started talking about a clock that got him up in the middle of the night.  It didn’t quite keep the time correctly. So he got up at 1am to work on it.  As he is describing all of the intricate pieces to me, I must of started to look confused so he said, “let’s just go upstairs to my clock shop.” He has a clock shop???

So we meander up the stairs and up some more stairs to this room that is hidden away and when  you walk in it is full of restored or in the process of being restored clocks. All sizes! They are gorgeous!!!  He is working on springs, pieces, clock faces, you name it.  He shows me the clock in question and I am in awe. There are all of these little pieces so intricately woven to make the clock what it is and make it do what it does so perfectly.  wow.

Then we had our lesson…I have to work on my wrist action.

I then left to have coffee with one of my favorite people in the world (hey Susan Means!) to talk about a worship service coming up.  We ended up talking (and drinking a whole pot of coffee) about restoration of people and how we live our life.  This woman is all about living her life to the fullest and choosing to do so! How do we restore each other.

I then had lunch with a friend and headed out to St. Vincent’s hospital in Portland to visit Michael and Terry Hall. Michael just had brain surgery! Talk about working now on restoration of the body. He is doing so well! Terry and I chatted for a few hours.  I mentioned that Easter will be so different this year…talk about new life! I won’t go into many details but here we are…sitting in the hospital…talking about his renewal, new life, and the journey ahead. wow.

The Psalm today is about restoration and how continuously God does it.  Once the Israelites were laughing and restored from exile and today is a plea yet again to do so.  It is about turning back to God’s covenant and to sing out the songs of Zion, of restoration.  During Lent we slowly get to take stock of what is being pruned in us so that we might work on restoring the branches.  Easter will give us a time to grow back but Lent gives us time to turn back and sing out our own need for restoration!  What needs restoring in you? What intricate pieces need to be put back together?  Where are you yearning to sing out?

Thanks be to God for people who remind us of this in practical ways!

Courtney