I begin each day by meditating. Perhaps my experiences will be helpful to others, especially as we struggle to overcome the Darkness of the Pandemic.

I usually begin by thinking “This is the day that the LORD hath made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it.” (paraphrase of Psalm 118:24). It’s good to begin each day rejoicing gladly. It sure beats starting each day complaining sadly.

I try to look out on the sunrise. I listen for birds singing. I admire the beauty of trees and flowers.

Next, I think “Let it go.” I try to relax and clear my mind. However, I am not meditating on nothingness or emptiness. I am meditating on the Word:

   —the Word that was in the beginning;

   —the Word that was with God;

   —the Word that is God.

   —the Word that became flesh and dwelt among us—Jesus!

To stimulate fresh thinking, I sometimes find it helpful to replace the word “Word” with the word “Wisdom”:

   —the Wisdom that was in the beginning;

   —the Wisdom that was with God;

   —the Wisdom that is God;

   —the Wisdom that became flesh and dwelt among us—Jesus!

This use of the word “Wisdom” as well as the word “Word” is appropriate.

The marginal notes to Chapter 8 of Proverbs in the The Jewish Study Bible, Second Edition state (in pertinent part): 

“[a]n important Jewish interpretation, starting with Gen. Rab.1.2, 5 and found in the Rashi to Gen. 1:1, uses Prov. ch 8 to argue that the Torah (identified by the rabbis with wisdom) was created before the world and used by God in creating it.” . . . Since ancient times, interpreters have disputed whether the verb ‘kanah’ means ‘created’ or ‘acquired.’ The latter allows for the possibility that wisdom existed from eternity and was coeval with God. Some Christian groups preferred this, since they identified wisdom with the Logos, which was in turn identified with the Christ.”

As you may know, the Greek word “Logos” is translated as “Word” in John 1:1-4, 14 which reads as follows:

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that was made. In him was [L]ife, and that [L]ife was the [L]ight of all [Humanity]. The [L]ight shines in the [D]arkness, and the [D]arkness has not overcome it. . . . The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

To continue to clear my mind to meditate on the Word and the Wisdom, I think: “Be still, and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10). This reminds me that there’s no reason to fret or worry. I can be still and know that God is in control, despite all the chaos in our lives and in our civilization.

To reassure myself further, I remember: “The LORD is my Shepherd, I shall not want.” (Psalm 23:1 KJV).

Depending on what is bothering me the most that morning, I spend the most time on the most relevant sayings.

If I’m depressed, I dwell on: “This is the day that the LORD hath made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it.”

If my mind is filled with chaos, distractions and worries, I dwell on: “Let it go.”

If I fear chaos, distractions and worries will overwhelm me and our civilization, I dwell on: “Be still, and know that I am God.”

If I fear I won’t have enough money, I dwell on: “The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want.”

If I feel overcome by writer’s block, I dwell on: “Speak, LORD, your servant is listening.”

Indeed, no matter what is most on my mind that morning, I always end with the thought: “Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening”. (1 Samuel 3:9).

This is a good idea at anytime. But it is especially relevant as I prepare to write these blogs for at least an hour each morning.

Before beginning to write, I continue meditating by reading the Bible gradually from cover to cover.

At the moment, I am reading the New Testament over and over again by reading the New International Version. Plus, I am reading the Old Testament over and over again by reading the Hebrew Scriptures and marginal notes in The Jewish Study Bible.

Now I am ready to meditate through my writings.

In this Way, I hide the Word and the Wisdom of the LORD my God in my heart, that I might not stray from loving him with all my heart and with all my soul and with all my strength. (Psalm 119:9-16; Deuteronomy 6:5; Matthew 22:37-38, 40).

In this Way, I hide the Word and the Wisdom of the LORD my God in my heart, that I might not stray from doing for others what I would want them to do for me. (Psalm 119:9-16; Matthew 7:12; 22:39-40).

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From time to time, I add and subtract the sayings that I am meditating upon, depending upon my feelings and my preoccupations—the places that I am in my life.

For examples of such places in my life, please read my blogs “Places of Worship—Rainbows”, “Places of Worship—Stone Pillows”, “Places of Worship—Crossing Streams”, “Places of Worship—Burning Bushes”, “Places of Worship—Seeing and Hearing”, “Places of Worship—Following the Way of Jesus”, “Places of Worship—Spirit and Truth”, “Places of Worship—Wanting To Get Well”, “Places of Worship—Praying and Singing Hymns in ‘Prisons’”, and “Places of Worship—Earthquakes”.

For additional thoughts on Pandemic Wisdom, please read my blogs “Fear Not the Pestilence That Stalks in the Darkness”, “Getting Out of Your ‘Tent’”, “Trusting The LORD Will Provide”, “Pandemic Wisdom: Praying and Waiting”, “Pandemic Wisdom: Hear and See, Understand and Perceive”, “Pandemic Wisdom: Visions of America”, and “Pandemic Wisdom: The Faith of My Father”.

Breathing mindfully is an important help when meditating. Therefore, I breathe deeply in through my nose and out through my mouth as follows:

This is the day that the LORD hath made. [breathing in] Let us rejoice and be glad in it. [breathing out]

Let it [breathing in] go [breathing out].

Be still, [breathing in] and know that I am God. [breathing out]

The LORD is my shepherd, [breathing in] I shall not want. [breathing out]

Speak, LORD, [breathing in] your servant is listening. [breathing out]