A Psalm

On How to Write a Psalm

A Psalm of Sandra, a lament and petition for Minnesota

Address

Merciful God, who sees all, hear our cries;

See the bound hands and feet,

Cradle our dying ones in cold, cramped cells in your holy arms

Hear our shouts and whistles, our honks and rage

Complaint

The locusts have made their descent

Masked, armed, ignorant, violent, angry men

Beating down doors, kicking in faces, shooting us in the streets,

Stripping us from cars, shoving us to the ground, spraying chemicals in our faces,

Barking out profane demands, breaking windows

Abusing and mocking our elders and children

We are nothing to them;

Scourges to be removed from their sick fabricated construct that

Somehow - we - your children

Fashioned in your image

Are not precious in your sight

Petition

We beg you for your compassion, healing, relief, and justice

To fall on us as gently as spring rain falls on the tender shoots in the fields

Our dear brothers and sisters work to provide all of us with food.

Confidence

How I want to embark on my own rampage of destruction

I want to inflict hot, holy, self-righteous, and unrelenting judgment and pain

But that is not your way

I cannot comprehend you O God -

For you tell me that your ways are higher than my ways

Your thoughts are higher than my thoughts

Resolution/Praise

I will train my mind and heart on your ways

As winter turns to spring -

I will trust in the miracle of the change of seasons

This season too shall pass

As day turns to night and again day -

I will trust that you are with me, the breath that I breathe

As neighbor reaches out to neighbor -

I trust your love and your command to

Welcome the stranger

Protect the widow and orphan

And to

Love my neighbor as myself

I trust in the power that is you - LOVE.