Stephanie Running shared the reflection below at a Thursday evening compline and we wanted to share it here. We hope you enjoy her updated version of Psalm 36:5-9 (Good News Bible and New International Version, selected).

A Psalm of God’s Great Love

“-Lord, your constant love reaches the heavens, your faithfulness extends to the skies.

-Your righteousness is towering like the mighty mountains, your justice like the depths of the sea.  People and animals are in your care.

-How priceless is your unfailing love! We find protection under the shadow of your wings.

-We feast on the abundant food you provide; you let us drink from the river of your goodness.

-You are the source of all life, and because of your light we see the light.”
G G G

Psalm 36 makes me think. I think about the time it was written, compared to the time I live in now. What do we know now that was not known 3000 years ago, when the Psalms were written? I have tried to write an updated version of these verses to include what science has discovered and history has revealed.

Lord, your constant love is expanding as the universe expands. Your faithfulness extends father than the Hubble Space Telescope can see—at least 13 billion light years away.

Your righteousness is towering like mountains. Higher than Mount Rainier at 14, 411 feet.
Even higher than Mount Everest standing more than 29,000 feet tall. 

Your justice is deeper than the Mediterranean Sea. Even beyond the depths of the Mariana Trench in the Pacific Ocean that is over 36, 000 feet deep.

People and animals are in your care. God loves all people of every ethnic background, and fashion preference. God lovingly created dinosaurs, plankton, kangaroos, Douglas squirrels, polar bears, and sockeye salmon.

How priceless is your unfailing love! Even all the wealth of Wall Street is tiny compared
to God’s generous love.

We find protection under the shadow of God’s titanium fortified wings.

We feast on the abundant food you provide. There are bountiful resources, plants, fruits, vegetables, grains, and minerals. There is so much more than we need. And it is gourmet quality! We have recipes from Julia Child and Rachael Ray! There is plenty for every body.

You let us drink from the river of your goodness. Water is purified by God’s WATER CYCLE. 

You are the source of all life. Bacteria, rhododendrons, and every ecosystem. 

You, O God, are the source of all light. All energy. We can make light with electricity. Each
December we can see the multi-colored LED lights displayed at Olympic Manor. 

And because of your light, dear God, we see light all around us. And just like it
was 3,000 years ago, we can look into the eyes of someone you love.
There it is! See a spark of God’s light reflected there.

Amen!

Stephanie Running, May 2021

Compline services are held at 7 PM each Thursday through September at 2639 NW 95th Street.