Psalm Writing, Poetry, and the Soul

Last night at my parish we had Ray McGinnis lead a workshop on Psalm writing and journaling. I was reminded of how powerful poetry can be in stirring the soul. In one exercise, Ray had us take a list of phrases and use them to write a personal psalm. Some people used several of the phrases, some started with one and took off from there, and others ran with a theme inspired from the words shared. People who thought they couldn't write much were turning words that revealed a depth of soul and you could feel it in the room. After many people shared what they had written, one woman commented that she felt as though she had been to worship. Indeed, there was a sense of the Holy as people shared words that revealed their own searching and finding.
Look through the Psalms and find those phrases that might shape a personal psalm.

Suggestions include:

I waited patiently

You go before me

Bones grow weak

I cry aloud to God

Over the waters

Myself a sanctuary

Ancient doors

Like a bird to the mountains

Look at me and answer

Like the feet of a deer

In the morning

. . . and you can find your own. Let the familiar phrases shape in you a response to God. Let the power of images and words awake the soul.

Peace,

John Mark