Heartsong

Psalm 79 is one of those Psalms which, sometimes, we would rather not have to read first thing in the morning - but that is the magic of reading through the Psalter - we do not get to pick and choose according to mood. I was, however, strangely grateful for this Psalm today.

As a child I remember being caught up by the Psalms as we sang them week by week at Matins and Evensong. Their often direct and emotional language spoke to me and I soon realized that there was a Psalm for every occassion - even though, these days, I tend to over-quote one or two of them.

Psalm 79 describes devastation. It is the heartrending cry of a people who want their fortunes restored, people who are brought low. Some might say that a call to God in these circumstances is naive - but I find it quite wonderful and uplifting - that these voices so squashed by life still lift themselves to their Creator and ask for help and mercy. A homecoming cry.

Sometimes I run out of words - it can happen for all sorts of reasons. There are times when I am tired and stressed, there are times when I am angry and I don't understand, there are times when there are just not words which will make any sense - and even though Psalm 79 is words there is a sense in it which appeals to those times when words don't work very well. That sense that when everything is in pieces God is. God is.

It is a heartsong to God and it reminds us that we all have that basic point of contact with God - that place to which we can return, on our knees, and find our place again. Sometimes heartsongs are loud, sometimes silent, but it is the realization of our life in the Divine that we find our way again. The cry is simple - we want to be yours again - we want to be at home in you, living with you and for you. Let us return, O Lord, so that we may praise your name.