My Boundaries Have Fallen in Pleasant Places

Our general theme for Advent, Minding Our Margins, is all about boundaries. We cannot reap any margin, any space for God, unless we acknowledge our boundaries. And in fact, much of our estrangement from God may well be grounded in our inability to realize and honor boundaries. Boundaries define our values and stake our limits. They offer the framework within which we are free.

Part of our responsible spiritual practice, I think, is to realize that not only our gifts, but also many of our most substantial boundaries, are offered by God. Our ultimate boundaries are God-given. And so they must be honored as such. The time and energy that we spend attempting to stretch or manipulate our boundaries then, is time and energy spent in opposition to God's dream for us. Our work is not to push our boundaries, to crowd our boundaries, but to honor them.

Verse 6 in this morning's psalm reads: the boundaries have fallen in pleasant places, and my inheritance is beautiful upon me.

Today I invite us to see the beauty in our boundaries. Rather than our human tendency to bemoan our lack of time or energy or resources to go beyond our boundaries, let us look with gratitude today upon the boundaries that offer us a chance to stop….and rest…..and remember who and whose we are.

Today I invite us to name one boundary in our lives that seems to be stretched close to its limit. And then let us  gift ourselves 30 minutes to reflect on that boundary. To truly appreciate the blessing that it offers in our lives. The gift that it bestows on our spirit. The reason that God might have created such a boundary for us, and the ways in which that boundary is meant to protect and support and inspire. 

Today is boundary appreciation day. 
Let us thank God for the limits that help to make us whole. 

Psalm 16

א  מִכְתָּם לְדָוִד:    שָׁמְרֵנִי אֵל, כִּי-חָסִיתִי בָךְ.	1 Michtam of David. Keep me, O God; for I have taken refuge in You.
ב  אָמַרְתְּ לַיהוָה, אֲדֹנָי אָתָּה;    טוֹבָתִי, בַּל-עָלֶיךָ.	2 I have said to the LORD: 'You are my Lord; I have no good but in You';
ג  לִקְדוֹשִׁים, אֲשֶׁר-בָּאָרֶץ הֵמָּה;    וְאַדִּירֵי, כָּל-חֶפְצִי-בָם.	3 As for the holy ones in the land, they are the excellent, in whom is all my delight.
ד  יִרְבּוּ עַצְּבוֹתָם,    אַחֵר מָהָרוּ: בַּל-אַסִּיךְ נִסְכֵּיהֶם מִדָּם;    וּבַל-אֶשָּׂא אֶת-שְׁמוֹתָם, עַל-שְׂפָתָי.	4 Become great the pain of another; their drink-offerings of blood will I not offer, nor take their names upon my lips.
ה  יְהוָה, מְנָת-חֶלְקִי וְכוֹסִי--    אַתָּה, תּוֹמִיךְ גּוֹרָלִי.	5 O LORD, is my chosen portion and my cup, You and the holder of my lot.
ו  חֲבָלִים נָפְלוּ-לִי, בַּנְּעִמִים;    אַף-נַחֲלָת, שָׁפְרָה עָלָי.	6 The boundaries have fallen for me in pleasant places; and my inheritance is beautiful upon me.
ז  אֲבָרֵךְ--אֶת-יְהוָה, אֲשֶׁר יְעָצָנִי;    אַף-לֵילוֹת, יִסְּרוּנִי כִלְיוֹתָי.	7 I will bless the LORD, who has given me counsel; and in the night also my heart admonishes me.
ח  שִׁוִּיתִי יְהוָה לְנֶגְדִּי תָמִיד:    כִּי מִימִינִי, בַּל-אֶמּוֹט.	8 I have set the LORD always before me; surely He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.
ט  לָכֵן, שָׂמַח לִבִּי--וַיָּגֶל כְּבוֹדִי;    אַף-בְּשָׂרִי, יִשְׁכֹּן לָבֶטַח.	9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices; my flesh also dwells in safety;
י  כִּי, לֹא-תַעֲזֹב נַפְשִׁי לִשְׁאוֹל;    לֹא-תִתֵּן חֲסִידְךָ, לִרְאוֹת שָׁחַת.	10 For You will not abandon my soul to Sheol; nor give Your kind one to see the pit.
יא  תּוֹדִיעֵנִי,    אֹרַח חַיִּים: שֹׂבַע שְׂמָחוֹת, אֶת-פָּנֶיךָ;    נְעִמוֹת בִּימִינְךָ נֶצַח.	11 You make me to know the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy, in Your right hand bliss for evermore.