The heavens are telling the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours forth speech, and night to night declares knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words; their voice is not heard; yet their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In the heavens he has set a tent for the sun, which comes out like a bridegroom from his wedding canopy, and like a strong man runs its course with joy. Its rising is from the end of the heavens, and its circuit to the end of them; and nothing is hid from its heat. The law of God is perfect, reviving the soul; the decrees of God are sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of God are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of God is clear, enlightening the eyes; the fear of God is pure, enduring forever; the ordinances of God are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey, and drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward. But who can detect their errors? Clear me from hidden faults. Keep back your servant also from the insolent; do not let them have dominion over me. Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, O God, my rock and my redeemer. Psalm 19

However, Psalm 19 popped out from the lectionary that week, telling me that the firmament — the earth, the globe, the biosphere — proclaims the handiwork of God. In other words, look up. Remember what you're here for. Then, a gentle reminder that words are not the most important thing in this world. I don't always to well with that suggestion; I'm a Political Science major and a Linguistics minor; it would be my dream to talk about the world and write words for others to speak for a living. But there are ways in the world for God to speak with less fuzziness that words too often entail. Creation and prayer and art and dance are the stuff of communication beyond words — good to remember five thousand words into one's thesis.

Then, the psalmist closes with a prayer. This is a line that comes to me whenever I am asked to speak in public, and passes through my brain in the voice of Northern California minister Sandhya Jha, singing, as she often does before preaching. "Let the words of my mouth and my heart's meditations be acceptable to you, O God." In a short, short time, I will be a college graduate, and this is the simplest prayer I can offer. Sometimes I will have to use words, will delight in using words, and I pray that sometimes I will get them right.

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