Happy is the One...

Irish Fishing Vessels

"Happy is the one...

whose delight is in the law of the Lord,

    and who meditates on his law day and night."

(from Psalm 1)

Russia announced its intention to conduct naval exercises off Ireland's coast on Feb.3. It would cross boundaries into Irish fishing waters. Government officials held talks, but couldn't change the Russian plans.

The fishermen's income loss could be significant. 

With failed government negotiations, the fishermen decided planned a coordinated effort to head off the Russian fleet. The plan meant constantly having fishing boats in the exercise waters. The fishermen would—peacefully—prevent the Russians from conducting naval exercises.

On February 1, the fishermen headed out to sea. The plan worked. The Russian naval vessels remained outside the Irish fishing boundary. 

 

Sometimes it seems like one of our boundaries may be crossed. 

Psalm 1 is a wisdom psalm describing two ways of life beginning with happiness. 

“Happy”, the very first word in the Psalm, occurs over twenty times in them. Clearly the Psalms give a commentary on the word “happy.”

Being "happy" isn't about doing what we want. Instead, "happy" is about doing what God wants. That, the psalm tells us, is meditating on the law day and night. The "law" meaning teachings about God's will which Jesus summed it up in Mt.22:37-39.

Charlie, a middle school student, in Special Ed, didn't get boundaries. Riding his bike around town at 2 a.m. showed boundaries were not part of his life.

Charlie showed up at our parsonage several times. The last time, he stole an item. Elaine spoke with the school social worker who suggested reporting it to the police. That way he would be in a system providing the help he needed. 

Because we "meditate on the law", we chose the difficult, yet loving act of reporting.

Two years later, he showed up at an al-anon meeting at church. He saw Elaine, approached her, and apologized for the theft.