The Psalter is the ancient hymnal of Israel. The poetry, imagery, and emotional range of the Psalms strike powerful chords in the human heart. The Psalms are also prayers. One way to deepen your spirituality is to pray the psalms, to read them and use them as your own prayers, or as a guide to personal reflection and meditation. To read through the book of Psalms in a month, use the chapters listed below.

If the readings are too much, you may want to take smaller bites, and spend time savoring each morsel. Let your heart be your guide. And always, as the saint says, "Pray as you can, not as you can't."

¹Reading divisions taken from The Contemporary Office Book : The Daily Office: Rite Two (New York: The Church Hymnal Corporation, 1995), 93-316.

The old lamp sat dejected at a flea market, broken, corroded and with some of its parts missing. It was a "bargain," meaning of course, that no one else wanted it. But I'd been reading about them, hoping I would find one I could take home and restore, knowing they can be quite valuable, at least to someone who loves them. I picked it up, turned it over in my hands and looked at it. It obviously had problems. The owner of the booth came over and said, "I'll let you have it, cheap." Didn't even charge sales tax.

I took it home, took it apart, cleaned it up. Found a part here, a part there: "something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue" ~ all the parts "married" together to form a working lamp. It still shows the scars of past abuse, but I think it's beautiful. And it gives off the most lovely light!

I look at that old lamp sometimes and see it as a parable: No matter how broken and beaten down we are, there is Someone who sees us, who values us, who longs to put us back together, to restore us. Someone who thinks we're beautiful. Someone who knows that we, too, can be bearers of light.

I serve in a protestant parish, and "making the Stations of the Cross" ~ meditating on them ~ is not part of our tradition. But last week one of the members talked about her faith journey. She used the stations as a way to relate the experiences of her life to her faith.

My own life is in transition at this point. Old things are passing away and the things that will replace them are not yet obvious. It is a painful time. It has been said that there is nothing certain in the life of faith except for the cycle of crucifixion and resurrection. This is a crucifixion time; I pray for the moment of resurrection ~ which is never under my control as to its timing or to the expression it takes. Nevertheless, no matter what the circumstance, God promises that we will never be abandoned or forgotten. God's love for us is unending.

The Stations of the Cross take us on the journey with Jesus from his trial before Pilate to his death and burial. They are reminders of God's love, mercy, and grace. There are two versions of them, a traditional version, and a newer version, celebrated by Pope John Paul II on Good Friday, 1991.

Take a little time to feed your soul. Reflect on God's love for you ~ using the Stations, the Bible, a beautiful sunset ~ or whatever helps you experience God's presence. As you do, know that God's love for you is never ending.

Currently Reading Walk With Jesus: Stations of the Cross By Helen, Sister David, Henri J. M. Nouwen see related