In the “For Pilgrims” article last week I remarked how God blessed four individuals whose memorials we held in the previous week. However, an honest recollection of memories will include not only when a person is blessed and all seems to be pleasant, but also difficult, discouraging times, and even times of oppression.

As I reflect on the next “song of ascents” in preparing for this “For Pilgrims,” my mind goes back to the four memorial services our church had the privilege to share with families in the past week, July 6, 7, 8, and 9. The reason is that the psalm resonates with the eulogies in these memorial services. I’ll explain. 

We, who live with plenty, can easily assume we are receiving what we have earned. We reason - we have worked hard and thus are rich and successful. Therefore, in our prosperity, we may become proud and believe we are receiving what we are entitled to. 

Edith and I are looking forward to watching another season of CFL football. Our favorite team - there is really no other team - is the one that has won the Grey Cup the last two times, 2019 and 2021. As we watch this year we hope that Winnipeg will win the Grey Cup “just one more time.”

There is a hymn some of us remember - “I shall not be moved.” After we have sung the song we should have a degree of stability - having repeated the words “shall not be” or “I shall not be moved” 26 times.

But, at times we do become unsettled. What then?

If we are honest and grateful we will have told someone, “I could not have made it through that crisis if you had not been there with me.”

We may feel strong and believe we can make it through life without any other person’s help. We know that when we were infants, we needed other people to help us. This will apply at the end of life as well.

I trust that as you read these words in the “For Pilgrims” panel of our weekly bulletin you also read the pilgrim psalms. The editors of the Psalter placed a collection of fifteen psalms that all have the title “A song of ascents” - Psalms 120 - 134. These are commonly understood as prayers that the Jewish pilgrims sang as they journeyed to Jerusalem and then up to the temple to worship the LORD God.

As I look ahead into the next months – from now until September – I anticipate two things.

First – our family is setting aside times to be together. I will never take this for granted.

When Edith and I begin a vacation we will often recite Psalm 121. There is a sense of trust and assurance expressed in this psalm that seems unequalled in the Bible.  

In last week’s article “For Pilgrims”, I began with Psalm 120, the first of fifteen psalms with the title “A song of ascents.” In Psalm 120, the psalmist begins where we must all begin.

When we hear a lie often enough do we begin to accept the lie as the truth? Do we have the discernment to recognize and reject a lie - no matter how popular it is and how our society pressures us to accept it? The writer of Psalm 120 faced this situation.