He was restless and talkative and then he asked for a Psalm

He was restless and talkative - a new guest at the Prayer Service which I led at Resurrection House this morning.

I gently asked him to listen and not to talk.

His wife spoke up  "He is brain-injured" she said.

My stupidity made me want to crawl under a chair.

He moved across the Chapel to where another guest was holding a huge floppy bible.

He took the bible and returned to his seat.  He thumbed through it, and then asked his wife to find Psalm 13.   She did so, and he took the bible back to its owner and said "please read Psalm 13".

Here is the psalm (as printed in the Episcopal Church Book of Common Prayer).
 


 
1
How long, O LORD?
will you forget me for ever? *
    how long will you hide your face from me?
 
 
2
How long shall I have perplexity in my mind,
and grief in my heart, day after day? *
    how long shall my enemy triumph over me?
 
 
3
Look upon me and answer me, O LORD my God; *
    give light to my eyes, lest I sleep in death;
 
 
4
Lest my enemy say, "I have prevailed over him," *
    and my foes rejoice that I have fallen.
 
 
5
But I put my trust in your mercy; *
    my heart is joyful because of your saving help.
 
 
6
I will sing to the LORD, for he has dealt with me richly; *
    I will praise the Name of the Lord Most High.
 
 
What more can I say, but that this morning I was taught by a brain injured brother.


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