A Special Lenten Reflection from Ima Jean Kidd, on her 90th Birthday
Friday, March 31
Ima Jean Kidd
Psalm 130:1-8
1 Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord.
2 Lord, hear my voice!
Let your ears be attentive
to the voice of my supplications!
3 If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities,
Lord, who could stand?
4 But there is forgiveness with you,
so that you may be revered.
5 I wait for the Lord, my soul waits,
and in his word I hope;
6 my soul waits for the Lord
more than those who watch for the morning,
more than those who watch for the morning.
7 O Israel, hope in the Lord!
For with the Lord there is steadfast love,
and with him is great power to redeem.
8 It is he who will redeem Israel
from all its iniquities.
Reflection
Psalm 130 is one of several intimate conversations between the Psalmist and God. “From the depths I call out to you, God!” We are called into a deep discussion with a caring God. Not to worry about honest feelings, because trust is involved in our outpouring. We understand that God forgives. God gives us the courage to “pour out our souls”—our fears, guilt, failures, and anxieties—trusting that we complain in faith. At The Park in 2016 we began singing a new response created by Paul Vasile: it follows the confession, ’We are forgiven, loved and free. We’re washed anew and called to be….” The Lenten experience calls us “to be”—to hope, to change, to confront challenges, to move on in our spiritual journeys.
Prayer
Caring God, we come in prayer remembering your presence with the covenant people Israel and our own journeys through the years. We continue in confidence that when we lament “calling from the depths,” you hear. Amen.
Ima Jean Kidd, a member of The Park since 1959, serves on the Elder Team, after several leadership roles. She remembers with joy serving as chair of the 175th anniversary celebration, and as co-chair of the 200th anniversary events. Her passions include liberation of persons with disabilities, advocacy for American Indians, and creative living in older years.