“I want the ‘Praise God for the Journey’ song,” Ava requested.
“I’m not sure what that is? What song is that, my sweet?” I ask.
She begins to sing doxology; however, a few words are her own:
“Praise God for the journey, blessings flow! Praise Him all creatures here below!…”
“Mom, you know this one!”
“Yes, you’re right, I do know that one!”
Praise God for the journey.
Those words stay with me, the word of God to my heart today.
It doesn’t have to be finished to stop and sing doxology.
It’s on the journey that we learn how to praise.
On this weekend, we remember Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the journey that he walked. We remember his battle against evil and the struggle for equality. We remember all that the pursuit of justice cost him, and others like him who led the way for us all. We remember that everything good and beautiful, just and true is worth fighting for. Those who have walked before us have testified to this truth.
Today, I invite you to praise.
Right in the messy middle, if that’s where you are, stop and sing.
You are under the hand of God.
Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Amen.
All shall be well, beloveds.
All shall be well,
All manner of things shall be well.*
*Julian of Norwich
