Psalm Meditation 1214 ¶Proper 20 ¶September 24, 2023 ¶Psalm 92 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+92&version=NRSVUE (NRSV) ¶Two furniture designers were having a conversation and one of them said that we as people are turning more and more toward negativity and that one of the tasks of designers is going to be to find ways to put a more positive spin on the world in which we find ourselves. The topic resonated with me as well. It is so easy take the downward spiral in attitude and opinion that we have to choose to be positive especially in the face of the negatives that bombard us on a daily basis. ¶The psalmist offers us a way to meet the negativity in our own lives at least. When we push ourselves to be thankful to and for those around us we find the world taking an upward swing. As we express our gratitude to others we find ever more for which to be grateful and gratitude becomes a habit and a lifestyle. When we add gratitude to God, or begin with it, we are uplifted, buoyed up by the awareness of the presence of God in our lives and in the world around us. ¶As we find ourselves being lifted by thankfulness and gratitude, we may still have a negative and cynical streak within us. It is not a good idea to hold negative thoughts and feelings in, so find a friend or two with whom to vent your cynicism. Have the venting session and leave it to dissipate on its own. Having vented, we can rejoin the world in thankfulness and gratitude. So even our negativity, and especially the friends with whom we share it can give us new reason to be grateful to God, and each other. ¶September 18, 2023 ¶LCM