August 13, 2025

Preparation – Entering the Silence

The day began with the deep, rolling sound of three powerful thunderstorms.
I felt a touch of laziness, yet I worked steadily—
uploading WanHee’s essay to Facebook
and archiving it on WordPress from her 2001 publication.
Later, I typed my old poems into WordPress,
determined to preserve them before paper fades and ink disappears.
Two poems from my youth were especially dark and heavy,
and the work left me physically and emotionally drained.

Reading – Hearing the Word

That evening at Wednesday choir practice,
a song captured my heart—
For Everyone Born by Shirley Erena Murray (1998).
Its refrain renewed my strength:

And God will delight when we are creators of justice and joy, compassion and peace;
Yes, God will delight when we are creators of justice, justice and joy!

One verse echoed deeply within me:

For just and unjust, a place at the table…
A mindset of mercy… a new way to live.

When I returned home,
I sat quietly in my chair,
my heart at peace.

Meditation – Letting the Word Speak

I prayed the Prayer for Direction from The Book of Common Prayer:

Direct me, O Lord, in all my doings with Your most gracious favor;
further me with Your continual help,
that in all my works, begun, continued, and ended in You,
I may glorify Your holy name,
and finally, by Your mercy, obtain everlasting life;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

My spirit then lifted with the hymn God of the Ages:

From war’s alarms, from deadly pestilence,
be Thy strong arm our ever sure defense;
Thy true religion in our hearts increase;
Thy bounteous goodness nourish us in peace.

I turned to Psalm 101, reading it in several translations.
The words came alive:

I will sing of Your love and justice.
I will study the way of integrity.
I will walk with a heart of integrity.
I will silence anyone who secretly spreads lies.
I cannot endure the proud or arrogant.
The one who walks with integrity will serve me.

This “Royal Psalm” was written after David’s victory over the Philistines,
when he attempted to bring the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem.
Uzzah’s sudden death halted the procession,
and David placed the Ark in the house of Obed-Edom.
He realized that the Ark could only rest among the holy.
From then on, David knew his kingdom must be built
on loyalty to God and moral purity.

Contemplation – Resting in the Presence

I envision the upright ruler descending from heaven—
the Messiah establishing His reign.
David’s vision speaks to me:

I look to the faithful of the land to be my companions—
those with a perfect heart and way.

I recall that within each person dwell two natures—
good and evil—like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.
Only the blending of mercy and justice
can truly restore the heart.

I whisper:
“I will set nothing worthless before my eyes.”
This is my prayer—
to walk a blameless path,
relying both on my own effort
and on God’s grace
to live with integrity.

Response – Living the Word

My Personal Creed

I believe in the Loving God—
the God of morning, noon, and evening—
who calls me to share His love
and bids me serve Him by serving others.

I believe in Jesus Christ,
the Great Healer of body and soul.
I confess that I have sinned against Him
in my attitudes and my actions.
I have been hesitant when I should have been bold.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the Creative Power of all life,
ever present to guide and strengthen me.
Yet I confess I have not always become
the person the Spirit has called me to be.

I believe in the one holy Church,
in the communion of saints,
and in God’s work of transforming
a land of death into
an eternal land of freedom, justice, and peace.(July 14, 1982)

Softly, I sing:

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
look full in His wonderful face,
and the things of earth will grow strangely dim
in the light of His glory and grace.

And I sense His invitation—
to enter joyfully into the presence of God,
to live in His justice,
to walk in His mercy,
and to rejoice in His joy.

© TaeHun Yoon