(based on Psalm 19)
Show me your God, I asked.
Open your fingers, he replied, and let
the rich soil crumble,
the cascading seas tumble,
the meandering breeze fumble
through them,
and you are feeling
the texture of God’s handiwork.
Open your ears and let
the sounds of the day distil,
the secrets of twilight fill,
the silence of the night spill
into them,
and you are listening
to the tones of God’s voice.
Open your eyes and follow
the sun from its shy-dawn beginning,
rising like a bridegroom brimming
or an athlete in the delight of winning,
and you are feeling
the heat of God’s beauty.
I scratched my chin. He continued:
The law of the Lord is perfect,
it revives a man’s soul and
makes him whole.
The evidence of the Lord is as certain
as a changed life, making wise
those with childlike eyes.
The orders of the Lord are pure,
designed to enlighten not frighten.
Adoration of the Lord is clean:
worship, no man can sever,
outside time, it lives on forever.
All the words of the Lord are true,
leading to a way not bettered
and a life unfettered.
More precious are these
than any mint of money,
sweeter to the taste
than any hive of honey.
More exacting are these
than the high demands on any servant,
yet more rewarding
than the loving arms of any parent.
I looked around, curious now.
Original art by Chris Mabey, all rights reserved.
Chris is emeritus professor at Middlesex University, London, specialising in leadership development. As a chartered psychologist, his recent books observe life from unique angles: 20th-century Myanmar through the eyes of a Burmese family; bible stories from the perspective of the stones present, and just published, a light-hearted collision with rural Provence. Chris lives in the UK with his wife April, and they love gathering with the extended family in France each summer.