What we get from this adventure is just sheer joy

That’s a quote from George Mallory.

He was the famed mountain climber who may have been the first person ever to reach the top of Mount Everest (in 1924) and his story and legacy features in Rev. Geoff McKee’s sermon this week.

The main scripture this week is from the Old Testament – Psalm 30 – where we find that God has met the Psalmist at the place of absolute weakness and helplessness and has brought deliverance (a “wild lament” turned into a “whirling dance” of joy).

The enduring impact of Psalm 30 for the Christian does not lie with the Psalmist. Instead, it points us to God. God has journeyed with the Psalmist to the point of death and found a way forward from it.

This has been an important week in Lossiemouth, with obvious steps taken towards a resumption of (joyful 🙂 ) access to the East Beach, last available in July 2019.

Still from drone video of new East Beach Bridge, Lossiemouth – 28 April 2022

Psalm 30 (The Message)
30 I give you all the credit, God—
you got me out of that mess,
you didn’t let my foes gloat.

2-3 God, my God, I yelled for help
and you put me together.
God, you pulled me out of the grave,
gave me another chance at life
when I was down-and-out.

4-5 All you saints! Sing your hearts out to God!
Thank him to his face!
He gets angry once in a while, but across
a lifetime there is only love.
The nights of crying your eyes out
give way to days of laughter.

6-7 When things were going great
I crowed, “I’ve got it made.
I’m God’s favourite.
He made me king of the mountain.”
Then you looked the other way
and I fell to pieces.

8-10 I called out to you, God;
I laid my case before you:
“Can you sell me for a profit when I’m dead?
auction me off at a cemetery yard sale?
When I’m ‘dust to dust’ my songs
and stories of you won’t sell.
So listen! and be kind!
Help me out of this!”

11-12 You did it: you changed wild lament
into whirling dance;
You ripped off my black mourning band
and decked me with wildflowers.
I’m about to burst with song;
I can’t keep quiet about you.
God, my God,
I can’t thank you enough.