"Turn to Me", Psalm 25

Psalm 25 Ad te, Domine, levavi

13	The LORD is a friend to those who fear him * and will show them his covenant.
14	My eyes are ever looking to the LORD, * for he shall pluck my feet out of the net.
15	Turn to me and have pity on me, * for I am left alone and in misery.
16	The sorrows of my heart have increased; * bring me out of my troubles.
17	Look upon my adversity and misery * and forgive me all my sin.
18	Look upon my enemies, for they are many, * and they bear a violent hatred against me.
19	Protect my life and deliver me; * let me not be put to shame, for I have trusted in you.
20	Let integrity and uprightness preserve me, * for my hope has been in you.
21	Deliver Israel, O God, * out of all his troubles.

The psalmist is under seige, and is calling out to God for protection. In the midst of trouble, the writer "turns to God," and asks God to "turn to me." The psalmist is not without hope, even in the midst of misery and trouble because the psalmist knows that humans can turn to God, and that God will also turn to us. So, what is it to turn to God, how do we discern how to turn to God? How to we discern whether we are turning in the right direction?

In my understanding, I think that there are many ways we might turn to God - many ways that we might pray and cultivate our relationship with God. From walking prayer to singing prayer to intercessory prayer to contemplative prayer to lectio divina, and so many other forms of prayer can cultivate our relationship with God. The Christian Tradition is rich with practices of prayer and worship, and there is a great deal of work being done on the "practices" of the Christian Life which can offer us resources and ideas. However, as Thomas Merton once wrote, the point is not to write, talk (blog?) about prayer...the point is to pray. The point is not to philosophize and talk about a relationship with God -- no, the point is to have a relationship with God.

So I will quit typing and go and pray!

~The Rev. Peter M. Carey