Psalms All Around Us

Last night at church there was a presentation called, “Psalms All Around Us”. On Sunday I had seen a blurb about it in the bulletin and it looked interesting. It was described as a compilation of pictures all over the country and narrated with the reading of Psalms and sing-a-long hymns. This guy Don Van Polen has gone all over the world and shot pictures and movie and has made a lot of these movies. So last night rolled around and I was really excited to go. Gavin, not super keen on the idea, comes along and even takes me to get coffee before. We get to the church, go inside and it is a sea of white hair. The man at the door hands us a flier and another brochure and we find s seat. When I start to read the provided literature I realized that this was **ehhemm** a Senior Adult Ministries Event. Whoops. Gavin leaned over and said, “First the Metamucil, now this, what’s next in your Senior Living Lifestyle?” We laughed and waited for everything to start. Before the show began I stepped out of the room and saw some friends in the back room having dinner and they asked what I was doing here and I explained that we were going to see, “Psalms All Around Us”, all 7 of them looked at me and said, “The Senior Movie?” Sheepishly I explained what happened and then realized I needed to get in there! My show was starting!

All in all, the show was pretty slow and was definitely made on amateur equipment but it was really good. It was nice to be reminded and take time to worship and enjoy God in His Word and in Creation. Both of which he authored, designed and created every detail for His glory and our direction. As I looked around the room I was once again reminded of the heritage of faith that attends our church. They are a generation of hard work and faithfulness. We worship in our beautiful new building because of their ground work and obedience to the Lord and His Church. As I looked around and reflected on the Psalms and other verses below I was reminded that there are Psalms all around. We do have wise men and woman who have served the Lord 3 times longer that I have even been alive! I do have amazing examples all around me. Being kind, compassionate and honoring to the older people in the church is not just a courtesy but a command. We are to love the body of Christ, and edify every part. Even the ones older and much younger. God’s handiwork has been etched into the lives and marriages of all these people. Every person there enjoyed the show and rejoiced in singing old hymns that were familiar to them and good for the soul. I was reminded to call my grandma, help the older people in our church with basic tasks and soak up every ounce of blessing and wisdom that has been bestowed onto their life. After all, they were are age once and they are now living in a totally different, but still a similar, world than they were born into. Their faith has been weathered, rocked, strengthened and grown. It would encourage them and bless me to know them more.

“Do not cast me off in the time of old age; Do not forsake me when my strength fails.” (Psalm 71:9)

“O God, You have taught me from my youth, And I still declare Your wondrous deeds. And even when I am old and gray, O God, do not forsake me, Until I declare Your strength to this generation, Your power to all who are to come.” (Psalm 71:17-18)

“They will still yield fruit in old age… to declare that the LORD is upright; He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.” (See Psalm 92:12-15). 

 “A gray head is a crown of glory; It is found in the way of righteousness.” (Proverbs 16:31)

“Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day.” (2 Corinthians 4:16)