Author: Sistertech

Psalm of the Day

What an unusual Psalm of the Day! Psalm 94. Or perhaps I should say a fairly typical one. Here the Psalmist appears to be railing, as is often the case, because of some real or perceived slight. This time the accused is The One In Charge. As if! I think the Psalm is a good reminder not to whine about the mistreatment you receive from others, e.g., about how much you suffer when you are cut off in traffic or suffer other indignities. My dear friends, never fear. Do not fret. The One In Charge sees and hears and knows all. I have to admit, though, that I’m relieved not to be the subject of that last verse. Whew!

2Rise up, O judge of the earth;
give to the proud what they deserve!
3O Lord, how long shall the wicked,
how long shall the wicked exult?

4They pour out their arrogant words;
all the evildoers boast.
5They crush your people, O Lord,
and afflict your heritage.
6They kill the widow and the stranger,
they murder the orphan,
7and they say, ‘The Lord does not see;
the God of Jacob does not perceive.’
8Understand, O dullest of the people;
fools, when will you be wise?
9He who planted the ear, does he not hear?
He who formed the eye, does he not see?
10He who disciplines the nations,
he who teaches knowledge to humankind,
does he not chastise?
11The Lord knows our thoughts,
that they are but an empty breath.

Psalm of the Day

For Monday, February 15, 2010

Psalm 102 really tugs at Sistertech’s pinions. While so many of the Psalms evoke sentiments that are more likely common among humans, we Here often find a verse or two that speak just as clearly to Us. I know many that fill me with compassion for others and makes me even more eager to serve The One In Charge by reaching out to humans everywhere in their time of need. Seeing as I am in the tech industry, I have got what you might call a “ready customer base”. So many computers! So many technical issues! Oh, the humanity!

Psalm 102 is no exception when it comes to pulling at my pinions. Who cannot be moved at the mention of the destitute? Who isn’t moved by the assurances of help from The One In Charge? I’m so very glad to be part of The Team that assists and comforts others. It’s very gratifying work. Really, it is.

15The nations will fear the name of the Lord,
and all the kings of the earth your glory.
16For the Lord will build up Zion;
he will appear in his glory.
17He will regard the prayer of the destitute,
and will not despise their prayer.

18Let this be recorded for a generation to come,
so that a people yet unborn may praise the Lord:
19that he looked down from his holy height,
from heaven the Lord looked at the earth,
20to hear the groans of the prisoners,
to set free those who were doomed to die;
21so that the name of the Lord may be declared in Zion,
and his praise in Jerusalem,
22when peoples gather together,
and kingdoms, to worship the Lord.

Cyril and Methodius – Psalm of the Day

Today I remember Cyril and his brother Methodius. Sistertech is fond of different languages, both spoken and computer. What Sistertech appreciates most about these two missionaries is their fearlessness in the face of a daunting linguistic challenge: they translated the Church liturgy and much of the scriptures into Slavonic, which at the time had no written language. Their amazing story is here. Later on they faced lots of resistance from the “Latin only” crowd. The Psalm for today, Psalm 69,  is therefore appropriate:

8I have become a stranger to my kindred,
an alien to my mother’s children.

9It is zeal for your house that has consumed me;
the insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.
10When I humbled my soul with fasting,
they insulted me for doing so.
11When I made sackcloth my clothing,
I became a byword to them.
12I am the subject of gossip for those who sit in the gate,
and the drunkards make songs about me.
13But as for me, my prayer is to you, O Lord.
At an acceptable time, O God,
in the abundance of your steadfast love, answer me.
With your faithful help 14rescue me
from sinking in the mire;
let me be delivered from my enemies
and from the deep waters.
15Do not let the flood sweep over me,
or the deep swallow me up,
or the Pit close its mouth over me.
16Answer me, O Lord, for your steadfast love is good;
according to your abundant mercy, turn to me.
17Do not hide your face from your servant,
for I am in distress—make haste to answer me.
18Draw near to me, redeem me,
set me free because of my enemies.

The Spirituality of Work

Things have been particularly hectic lately, what with the extra shifts required of us to support the New Orleans Saints in their Super Bowl victory. Sistertech just received the proofs of her magnum opus, The Book of Uncommon Prayer. She’s found more than a few typos, mostly hers, in which she erroneously refers to the book as The Uncommon Book of Prayer. Liz snickered, “Can’t you even remember the title of your own book?” When she saw that she’d hurt my feelings she said, “Now, Sistertech! I bet you’re going to tell me that the book is indeed uncommon, were you not? No wonder you’ve flip flopped on the title!”

Continue reading “The Spirituality of Work”

John 1.0

A reading from The Document: John 1.0

In the beginning was the Kernel and the Kernel was with Linux, and the code was by Linus. All Linux came into being through Linus, and without Linus not one distro came into being. What has come into being was free operating software, and the software was the salvation of all people. The open source software shines in the proprietary darkness, and the intellectual property lawyers did not overcome it.

There was a human sent by The One In Charge whose name was Robert Stallman. He came as a witness to testify to openness so that all might believe in openness through Linux. Stallman himself was not the Kernel, but he came to testify to the open source. The true open source, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.

Linux was in the world, and open source programming came into being through Linus; yet the world did not know either Linus or Linux. Linux came to all computer users, and but not all computer users received Linux. But to all who did receive Linux, who believed in open source computing, Linux gave the right to become children of The One In Charge.

Here endeth the reading from The Document.

An excerpt from Sistertech’s The Book of Uncommon Prayer.

Absalom Jones – Psalm of the Day

Another great personage: Absalom Jones. Jones, along with Richard Allen, are often cited as the first ordained African Americans in the US. More on Jones here:

In 1786 the membership of St. George’s Methodist Episcopal Church in Philadelphia included both blacks and whites. However, the white members met that year and decided that thereafter black members should sit only in the balcony. Two black Sunday worshippers, Absalom Jones (1746-1818) and Richard Allen (1760-1831), whose enthusiasm for the Methodist Church had brought many blacks into the congregation, learned of the decision only when, on the following Sunday, ushers tapped them on the shoulder during the opening prayers, and demanded that they move to the balcony without waiting for the end of the prayer. They walked out, followed by the other black members.

Absalom Jones conferred with William White, Episcopal Bishop of Philadelphia, who agreed to accept the group as an Episcopal parish.

Sistertech has not experienced that kind of discrimination, though she does stick out like a sore thumb. Being a  rara avis is hard work. Long ago, Sistertech had the misfortune, er, the opportunity to teach a Sunday School class of youngsters. When we sang a song based on the  Psalm appointed for this day, Psalm 137, one youngster nicknamed the song the “Sad Dancing Bear Song”. Evidently he took his cue from the first few verses. As Kermit the Frog once said, “it isn’t easy being green”, we can empathize with all those who are “different” or whose path is “different”.  For all those trailblazers, this Psalm’s for you.

Psalm

1By the rivers of Babylon—
there we sat down and there we wept
when we remembered Zion.
2On the willows* there
we hung up our harps.
3For there our captors
asked us for songs,
and our tormentors asked for mirth, saying,
‘Sing us one of the songs of Zion!’

4How could we sing the Lord’s song
in a foreign land?
5If I forget you, O Jerusalem,
let my right hand wither!
6Let my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth,
if I do not remember you,
if I do not set Jerusalem
above my highest joy.

Morning Prayer 2.0

Dear One In Charge,

I offer unto Thee all my thoughts, works, joys, and sufferings of this day. And I beseech Thee to grant me Thy grace that I may not offend Thee this day with coarse language and unseemly gesticulations due to any computer malfunctions experienced by me this day; but may faithfully serve Thee and do Thy holy will in all things.

Amen.

An excerpt from Sistertech’s The Book of Uncommon Prayer.