Tears for Food

A Lenten Reflection

Psalm 42: 2-3

My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God? 
3 My tears have been my food day and night, while people say to me all day long, 
“Where is your God?”

As the Deer - One of the classic old school praise and worship choruses comes from Psalm 42.  I am sure that most of us have sung ‘As the deer’ for so many years that it has been filed away in the “songs to never ever sing again file”.  (Other songs could also include Lord I lift your name on High, and Every Move I make – the motions also banned).  There are even some that when the song is sung, they shout “BANG” - after you repeat the first line about a deer.  Classic- Sigh. 

With the familiarity of the song we can fall into the trap of losing the beauty of the message.  The familiar fades the truth away, and when it is too familiar it is no longer relevant.  The word of God, however, is that which desires to communicate to us the very grace and life of God. 

Take a look at verses again- . My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God? 
3 My tears have been my food day and night, while people say to me all day long, 
“Where is your God?”

Are there any songs that talk about eating ones tears or food all day and night?  With the hungering and thirsting for God comes often a physical response.  Jesus promised that those who hunger and thirst after righteousness would be filled.  The psalmist here is not after just that; they are after the living God. 

Often we hear of the altar stories where the pastor/evangelist/speaker can point to the place at the altar and say it was HERE that they met God.  One night for me, I couldn’t even make it to the altar because of the paralysis that came from my tears.  I stayed in the pew eating and drinking my tears because God met with me in a powerful way I never had experienced before. I surrendered my life and my future to God that night. It seems that even now as I walk by the tears are stained into the dusty floor. 

During the season of Lent, we are called to take time to pray, reflect, and sacrifice.  This is a time to eat our tears.  Would you create some space in your life to meet with God?  Do you thirst after the living God?  I believe that God will meet with you.  Seek God out during this time of Lent and you will discover the tastiness of your tears. 

Shed a tear for your soul, the church, and our world.  Weep over our inactivity when justice was calling out.  Weep over our over-activity on matters related to our own personal needs rather than the world.  Bon appétit on your tears during this season of Lent.