Hello and welcome to this recording of Psalm 58.
I'm outside again today so welcome the sounds of nature,
Of life going by and overhead as part of this meditation.
As we arrive I invite you to settle,
To find a comfortable position,
To gently and slowly begin to let go of your day so far and of what's to come.
To know that what you're letting go of can be returned to and be attended to at another time.
And for now all that's needed is to be here in this place and this moment.
Receive the grace to be present.
Gently begin to notice your breath,
To let yourself sink for your body to release and to begin to welcome stillness and quiet within.
I'm going to read this Psalm three times.
This first reading I invite you to simply let the words come without attaching to any in particular.
Psalm 58.
Do the leaders of the nations know what is right or are their hearts set on power and fame?
Do they look within for guidance to the heart of all hearts?
In whom can the people put their trust?
The ignorant go astray following idle gods of illusion.
They err in their blindness,
Falling only themselves.
They are filled with conceit and empty promises.
As the hunter with sweet bait lures the deer with intent to kill,
The weak become food for the arrogant.
O beloved,
Open our eyes.
Break through the darkness of our ignorance.
Tear down the walls of our fear.
Let us trust in the divine moment,
Living as children with trust and joy.
Let us awaken to our birthright,
Free to choose the creative path,
Walking in harmony to the planetary song.
Awaken us to the interconnectedness of all beings,
To all that fly and swim,
To all that walk and crawl upon the earth.
Those who know love will rejoice as the nations learn to cooperate,
As the peoples of earth recover their true heritage.
People will say the time has come to dwell in peace and integrity,
To walk together in the light of the most high,
Heart of the universe.
On this second reading,
I invite you to notice the words or phrases that stand out to you and capture your attention.
Do the leaders of the nations know what is right?
Or are their hearts set on power and fame?
Do they look within for guidance,
To the heart of all hearts?
In whom can the people put their trust?
The ignorant go astray,
Following idle gods of illusion.
They err in their blindness,
Falling only themselves.
They are filled with conceit and empty promises.
As the hunter with sweet bait lures the deer with intent to kill,
The weak become food for the arrogant.
O beloved,
Open our eyes,
Break through the darkness of our ignorance,
Tear down the walls of our fear.
Let us trust in the divine moment,
Living as children with trust and joy.
Let us awaken to our birthright,
Free to choose the creative path,
Walking in harmony to the planetary song.
Awaken us to the interconnectedness of all beings,
To all that fly and swim,
To all that walk and crawl upon the earth.
Those who know love will rejoice as the nations learn to cooperate,
As the peoples of earth recover their true heritage.
People will say the time has come to dwell in peace and integrity,
To walk together in the light of the Most High,
Heart of the universe.
And on this third and final reading,
I invite you to welcome those words and phrases to bring their gift.
Notice how they make you feel,
What's stirring within you as you hear them.
Do they offer something?
Do they invite something?
Bring them to the deeper places of yourself.
Do the leaders of the nations know what is right?
Or are their hearts set on power and fame?
Do they look within for guidance to the heart of all hearts?
In whom can the people put their trust?
The ignorant go astray,
Following idle gods of illusion.
They err in their blindness,
Falling only themselves.
They are filled with conceit and empty promises.
As the hunter with sweet bait lures the deer with intent to kill,
The weak become food for the arrogant.
O Beloved,
Open our eyes.
Break through the darkness of our ignorance.
Tear down the walls of our fear.
Let us trust in the divine moment.
Living as children with trust and joy.
Let us awaken to our birthright.
Free to choose the creative path.
Walking in harmony to the planetary song.
Awaken us to the interconnectedness of all beings.
To all that fly and swim.
To all that walk and crawl upon the earth.
Those who know love will rejoice as the nations learn to cooperate.
As the peoples of earth recover their true heritage.
People will say the time has come to dwell in peace and integrity.
To walk together in the light of the most high heart of the universe.
I invite you to linger with these words.
To stay a while in the quiet.
To receive their gift to those deeper places within.
May hope and love,
Joy and peace accompany you.
Amen.
