Psalm 42: As the deer longs …

As the deer longs …
hunger and thirst, holy desire
bubbling up from a place hidden beneath
the tasks to do and the emails to read and the dinner to cook
… my heart
cast down, weighed down, shoved down
out of the way, out of polite conversation
this unbalanced longing that refuses sedation
that leaks as tears for no particular reason
… Why?!
disquieted discounted dissatisfied
deep to deep, the roar of the ocean 
calls to the roar of your Spirit within my spirit
 … Where?!
This is You, this hope, this thirst
this knowing of You I call my Help, my Hope, my God
… When?!
battered still by evidence of failure and rejection
pain carried yet in the heart, in the bone 
… and deep, calls to deep
as by day the Lord commands steadfast love
and by night holy song calls to song
calls up prayer,
prayer to the God of my life.

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Psalm 42: As a deer

As a deer longs for flowing streams
so longs my soul for you, my God.
My heart is trampled down,
crushed and broken.
Tears fall, throat dry,
I thirst for you.
Deep calls to deep
as waves crash over my head.
I am lost and alone.
The enemy calls
    “Where is your God?!”
Why are you down, my heart?
Every day God’s grace surrounds    
    you,
every night God’s song sings in you.
Hope in God, my help and my God!
Praise will rise again.

Note on the photo:
I took this image of one of the thousands of springs at the base of Mt Hermon,
​pure fresh water bursting out between the rocks, that forms the Jordan River.