Last Thursday evening, four of us gathered to read and discuss Psalm 46. We had the usual open and honest conversation about what we heard in the text and how we reacted to it. I think it's fair to say that most of us felt this Psalm reflected the magnificence and drama in the world and the powerful presence of a Divine Spirit of Love within each of us.

There was an immediate intuitive understanding that whoever wrote this Psalm was going through a distressing time, though it was not clear exactly what was happening. Indeed, scholars have a difficult time placing this Psalm in any one particular historical context. The Psalm speaks about its current dilemma in words that are too general to pin down the specific circumstances that inspired its creation.

The Interpreter's Dictionary of the Bible concludes that whatever the historical context or proper classification of this Psalm may be it surely "rises out of a present experience of [God's] nearness, which is itself the guarantee of what the future will bring to light." (IDB, p. 240) This experience of the nearness of God, the divine presence that dwells in us, or , as we adapted the Psalm today, "The Spirit of Love Within Us," is an essential element of the Psalmist's confidence, hope and trust. It permeates the entire Psalm.

One of the phrases that stands out for some people because of the perceived disconnect from present reality is in verse 9 where the Psalmist says, "All over the world, God is stopping wars." Oh how nice it would be if God, or anyone for that matter, would stop human warfare altogether. Yet everyday we continue to hear of new atrocities, new death counts, new acts of violence often perpetrated in God's name. What's going on here?

For one thing, Psalm 46 asserts that God is not one who is starting wars but one who is stopping them. In this text God does not destroy people rather, God destroys the instruments of violence that people use to destroy each other To use God's name as a justification for warfare or violence is not an option here.

The other trap we often fall into in approaching texts like this is to import into them a view of God as a supernatural anthropomorphic being who is going to come down from heaven and do things for us. Clearly this view of God is no longer tenable, if it ever was. Psalm 46 depicts God as being immanent, very near to us, ever-present and indwelling. This is a God, a Divine Spirit, Energy or Consciousness, that acts in and through us.

God is stopping wars not with a huge Monty Python-esque fist coming out of the clouds to shatter spear and shield! Rather, God is stopping wars by moving within the human heart as we begin to listen to the wisdom within us; as we learn how to resolve our conflicts peacefully; as we open our hearts in compassion, stop the war within, and practice, as Psalm 46 advises, the stillness that leads to the knowledge of God.

This is an invitation to enter fully into the present moment with a heart that is awake, open and compassionate. With this open heart we will undoubtedly encounter tragedies and sorrows we would rather avoid. We will come face-to-face with our own shadow side, our own inner demons that need to be embraced and transformed.

Jack Kornfield tells the following story about this fearless opening of the heart in compassion. It is a story about Milarepa, Tibet's favorite yogi and saint.

The awakened heart is our refuge and strength; an ever-present help that is always available to us. It is the home we carry with us on the journey; the Spirit of Love that is within us. When all else melts away, our stronghold is the compassionate stillness within that stops the war and welcomes the whole of life.

Psalm 46 (adapted)

The Spirit of Love Within Us is our refuge and our strength,

Our ever-present help in distress.

Though the earth trembles,

And mountains slide into the sea,

We have no fear.

Waters foam and roar,

And mountains shake at their surging;

But the Spirit of Love is with us-

Our stronghold, the God of Israel.

There is a river

Whose streams give joy to the city of God,

The holy dwelling of the Most High.

Yahweh is in its midst; it stands firm.

The Spirit of Love Within Us will aid it at the break of day.

Even if nations are in chaos, and kingdoms fall,

The voice of the Spirit of Love Within resounds;

the earth melts away.

Yahweh is with us;

The God of Israel is our stronghold.

Come! See the deeds of the Most High,

The marvelous things which The Spirit of Love Within Us has done on earth;

All over the world, The Spirit of Love Within Us is stopping wars-

Breaking bows, splintering spears,

Burning the shields with fire.

"Be still! And know that I am God,

Exalted among the nations, exalted upon the earth."

The Spirit of Love is within us;