A Male, Middle-aged, Modernist’s Lament

One of our seminary assignments for Hebrew Poetry and Contemporary Ministry was to write a psalm.  I chose to write one of lament. I meant to post this earlier and must have forgotten.  Found it in my draft folder.

(For those that do not know me, this lament is not autobiographical.  Mine would be boring.) 

A Male, Middle-aged, Modernist’s Lament

My ex-wife mocks me before her support group as they sit close on my Italian leather,

               While they laugh at me as they sip their wine.

My children call me by my first name

               While my mother curses my birth,

My church has edited me off its membership list

              While my pastor does not even know my name.

My heart lives in fear of being laid off.

             While my soul is already in recession.

My head is balding, my waist increasing, my savings depleted, my home lost

             While my pride is destroyed. 

My soul aches for belonging

             While I only find new ways to be abandoned.

My world has lost its way!

            I have lost my way!

There is no truth, no justice, no compassion, no peace and no love. 

It would have been better to have been aborted than to have entered this reality.

But praise the Lord for His faithfulness

                   For He remembers the broken-hearted.

Mocked by society but encouraged by God.

Disrespected by my own blood, but delivered by the Redeemer.

Forgotten by pastors and parents, but my name is tattooed on the arm of my Lord.

Laid off by employers, but promoted by the Almighty.

Embarrassed by my body but God has healed my soul.

Praise the God of second chances.

Praise the Father for not neglecting His children.

Praise the One who never edits, deletes, or forgets His worshippers.

Praise the Provider for in the midst of depression, He gives confidence.

Praise the Lord for hearing my cries and for His comfort.

But praise the Lord for His faithfulness