To the followers of my Wordless Wednesday posts, I greatly apologize. I have been insanely busy working on getting this book ready for publication. I will try to post something later today, but at this point, I have nothing new.

Today’s psalm is one of the Songs of Ascent. In the introduction of the new book, I say that they were my least favorite to write. The reason they were difficult is that they felt too foreign at first. They were very much relating to the experience of Jews coming from bondage. After reading commentaries, however, I began to love them. As unlikely as this may seem to some, my father’s father was born into slavery (and apparently continued to enslaved until he fled to Pittsburgh, PA). I have spent a great deal of time trying to learn more about him and his family, and it has been quite difficult. In my research, I have read many slave narratives, and have read through plantation records. American slavery is very real to me. I share this reflection to make it clear to my readers that some of the content in this book may be difficult for some.

This one is about what it must have been like for former slaves when they heard that freedom had finally come. In my quest to learn more about slavery, I visited Brown’s Island in Richmond, VA. Part of a bridge that was destroyed at the end of the Civil War remains. On it are markers with actual quotes from people who were there on April 3, 1865 when President Lincoln came to visit a conquered Richmond and Jeff Davis was on his way south. It was a very powerful experience.

This scripture quoted in the first line hangs in the church my aunt pastored for years on a banner made by my cousin. Whenever I read it, I think of them.

One final note: I used image here where I originally meant to use imagine. I decided to keep it. 🙂

FREEDOM

A Song of Ascents

Psalm 126

The Lord has done great things for us
Of which we are glad. *

We have dreamt so long of freedom
But it was hard to image
It really happening.
Until we heard the news,
Not from those who held us captive
But from the grapevine,
Literally
Master Abraham has freed us
The war is over
We’re free
You never heard such joy
Such praises
Tears of joy
Singing
Laughter
Even those who oppressed us
Noticed our joy
And God’s favor toward us
God will restore our fortunes again
Those who wept while they sowed
Will harvest great joy!

*Psalm 126, verse 3, King James Version