5b U maak my hoof vet met olie; my beker loop oor.

6 Net goedheid en guns sal my volg al die dae van my lewe; en ek sal in die huis van die Here bly in lengte van dae.

Psalm 23

“Unfortunately, our natural instinct is to try to fix pain, to control it, or even, foolishly, to try to understand it […] [Faith] is the ability to stand in liminal space, to stand on the threshold, to hold the contraries, until we are moved by grace to a much deeper level and a much larger frame.” – Richard Rohr...

… “Hy verkwik my siel;

Hy lei my in die spore van geregtigheid

ter wille van sy Naam.”

Ps. 23:3...

Contemplation means rest, suspension of activity… withdrawal into the mysterious interior solitude in which the soul is absorbed in the immense and fruitful silence of God. - Thomas Merton

"Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met. - from Matthew 6 (The MSG)"

“During times of peace, we must try and make space for ambiguity”. – Antjie Krog, Country of my skull..."

"Die Psalmdigter sing, bid en prys op maniere wat pyn omvorm in hoop en rou in moontlikheid. In hierdie uitdrukking, ontmoet sy vertroue in God en sy omhelsing van die menslike realiteit."

"I'm telling you to love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer, for then you are working out of your true selves, your God-created selves. This is what God does. He gives his best - the sun to warm and the rain to nourish - to everyone, regardless: the good and bad, the nice and nasty.’" Matt 5:44-45 (MSG)

"Die Psalms is nie ’n gids vir perfekte gebede nie — dit is ’n padkaart om teenwoordig vir jouself en God te wees. Dis die plek waar jy nie net vra nie, maar ook kla, wag en word — met lyf en siel. Dis nie ’n gekla om kla se onthalwe nie, maar waarheid wat woorde vind..."

Die Psalms leer ons om te sing waar ons ook al is. Woedend, laggend, huilend, smekend, dankbaar en nog wat. Dis met hierdie opregtheid dat ons dit kan waag om onsself te vind, al bevind ons onsself uit plek uit.