Psalm 34:1-10, 22

1 I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall ever be in my mouth.
2 I will glory in the Lord; let the humble hear and rejoice.
3 Proclaim with me the greatness of the Lord; let us exalt his Name together.
4 I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me out of all my terror.
5 Look upon him and be radiant, and let not your faces be ashamed.
6 I called in my affliction and the Lord heard me and saved me from all my troubles.
7 The angel of the Lord encompasses those who fear him, and he will deliver them.
8 Taste and see that the Lord is good; happy are they who trust in him!
9 Fear the Lord, you that are his saints, for those who fear him lack nothing.
10 The young lions lack and suffer hunger, but those who seek the Lord lack nothing that is good.
22 The Lord ransoms the life of his servants, and none will be punished who trust in him.

This year, Monday Matters is focused on wisdom conveyed in the treasures of the book of Psalms. We'll look at the psalms read in church before Monday Matters comes to your screen.

Menu or Meal?

Alan Wilson Watts was a writer known for interpreting Eastern philosophy for a Western audience. One of his quotable quotes: “The menu is not the meal.” It’s a metaphor expressed in a variety of ways, e.g.,"the map is not the territory" and "a finger pointing at the moon is not the moon." You get the idea.

The Rev. Dawn Davis, a gifted priest and wise teacher in Canada, applied this principle to the Christian community when she created a program called Revive. It’s a program intended for all those who work in the church. Not so much clergy but lay people, folks who serve on Vestries or church committees, those who work in ministries like altar guild or ushers. Many of these folks give tirelessly, without much thanks. They often feel relief when their assignment is up. The fact is, they can give all kinds of hours to church work and in the process, not really experience any of the life-giving power of an encounter with God. All they get is tired.

I found in the research we did with RenewalWorks that our Episcopal churches are filled with people who have been in the pews for decades but have not really felt that they had an experience of God in their lives. Dawn Davis saw this dynamic at work in her church. As a gift of gratitude to all those who have worked so hard, she created this program to guide people in actually experiencing a life of faith, a vibrant relationship with the living God. The program offered an introduction to basic spiritual practices, and provided a way for folks to put them to work in their lives.

With that in mind, she picked up Alan Watts’ metaphor, claiming that the menu is not the meal, that knowing about God is different than actually knowing God. Knowing a lot about Jesus is not the same as following him. Believing in the concept of the Holy Spirit, as mysterious as that may be, is not the same as experiencing the power of that living presence. Ironically, menu without meal can be the experience of clergy who may study philosophy and theology and liturgy but have little experience of encounter with the Holy One.

A variation on the wisdom that the menu is not the meal can be detected in the psalm heard in church yesterday in the observance of All Saints Day. (The psalm is reprinted in this email.) It includes this verse: Taste and see that the Lord is good. We can find the same invitation in the gospels. In the first verses of the gospel of John, Jesus addresses two prospective disciples. They follow Jesus from a distance and tentatively ask where he is going. Jesus tells them, quite simply, come and see. (It reminds me, perhaps redeems the 1971 commercial: Try it. You’ll like it) Spiritually speaking, what does that look like? The psalm gives us some ideas.

It means trust (v.8). So how might you act with a deeper trust in God this week? With tomorrow’s election and the anxiety that comes with the current political scene, is there a way to live in the confidence that God is in charge, that God is faithful, that God’s intention for all is love?

It means fear (v.9). So how might your life unfold this week in that holy fear, perhaps conveyed in the true meaning of the word “awesome”? Is there a way to live each moment in the presence of a higher power, to realize that our lives unfold in the presence of a creator who not only loves us but likes us, a God who delights in us?

It means seeking the Lord (v.4,10). How might you seek the Lord this week, knowing that whatever we have experienced of God in our life, there are always ways to go deeper? Can you hear Jesus ask you: “What are you looking for in your life?”

It means glorying in the Lord, praising and blessing and proclaiming (v.2,3). Amidst all the things that challenge us, all the hurt we have experienced, all the sadness that surrounds us, can we develop an attitude of gratitude, celebrating beauty and goodness around us?

What steps might you take this week? Having become familiar with the menu, can you dive into the meal? Can you taste and see that the Lord is good?

-Jay Sidebotham