Momentum For Monday, January 27th 2025

“The Lord will keep you from all evil; He will keep your life.” (Psalm 121:7)

The following was something one of my professors shared in one of my current classes. I thought it was insightful and worth sharing. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did:

In 1980, Old Testament scholar Walter Brueggemann published a seminal article called “The Psalms and the Life of Faith: A Suggested Typology of Function.” In this article, he discussed the work of philosopher Paul Ricoeur. Ricoeur argued that humans go through three main existential experiences in life, they form a cycle that we may go through several times. The experiences are these. First, the experience of orientation. That is, there are times when our life seems to be going well. When our understanding of ourselves and our place in the world seems stable and secure. However, these times never last forever, which leads to the second experience of disorientation. Disorientation are times when something happens and it makes us question our place in the world, our view of ourselves, or even of God. Like times when a cancer diagnosis is given, or when you lose a close friend, or a job that you cared deeply about. During these times of disorientation we long for the past and strive to make sense of how our life can go on. Ricoeur then argued that many people who go through this will eventually find a new perspective, a new way of viewing the world that allows them to continue on in life with hope. He calls this, new orientation. The persons view is not the same as it was, but it has come to a new place of stability…This pattern seems to reflect well the experience that most people in life go through: orientation – disorientation – new orientation. We may go through that cycle several times in our lives.

Wherever you may find yourself in this cycle, know that it won’t be forever. Those who are in Christ are also in his hands. Trust in him to reshape your thoughts and life.

“Your commandments give me understanding; no wonder I hate every false way of life.”

(Psalm 119:104)