A New Day

Fall classes begin this morning, preceeded by a convocation in the chapel. As I prepared for the day (and this new life, beginning today), this morning's lectionary psalm resonated within me ...

Morning: Psalm 116:1-19 ...
[1] I love the LORD, because he has heard my voice and my supplications.
[2] Because he inclined his ear to me,
therefore I will call on him as long as I live.
[3] The snares of death encompassed me; the pangs of Sheol laid hold on me; I suffered distress and anguish.
[4] Then I called on the name of the LORD:
"O LORD, I pray, save my life!"
[5] Gracious is the LORD, and righteous; our God is merciful.
[6] The LORD protects the simple;
when I was brought low, he saved me.
[7] Return, O my soul, to your rest,
for the LORD has dealt bountifully with you.
[8] For you have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling.
[9] I walk before the LORD
in the land of the living.
[10] I kept my faith, even when I said, "I am greatly afflicted"; [11] I said in my consternation, "Everyone is a liar."
[12] What shall I return to the LORD
for all his bounty to me?
[13] I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the LORD, [14] I will pay my vows to the LORD in the presence of all his people.
[15] Precious in the sight of the LORD
is the death of his faithful ones.
[16] O LORD, I am your servant;
I am your servant, the child of your serving girl.
You have loosed my bonds.
[17] I will offer to you a thanksgiving sacrifice and call on the name of the LORD.
[18] I will pay my vows to the LORD
in the presence of all his people,
[19] in the courts of the house of the LORD, in your midst, O Jerusalem.
Praise the LORD!

When I have been brought low, I have been sustained by God and it is to God that I now truly pay my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people. I am the daughter of God's servant Lib from whom I have learned of God's unconditional love for God's people. I, too, am God's servant. I am here in this place to learn, to grow, to be melted, molded, filled, and used as only God sees fit. God is the potter and I am the clay. Through each of you reading this note, God has spoken to me through the years and I am here in large part because of you. Thank you for speaking God's words to me time and time again, until I heard God's call. And, so I began today ...