As I write this lectionary reflection, Russian troops are waiting on the border of Ukraine for Putin’s order to invade. As I revise it, they have invaded. We’ve watched the buildup of troops for weeks. The situation has turned in a moment. Before, I watched reporters interviewing an elder veteran pacing an old army trench, a grandmother in a pink housecoat taking up arms, a mother and her teenagers practicing at the shooting range. Now, these common citizens answer the call to protect their homeland, their communities, their right to live free and secure. And the world will watch their battle on social media. The questions of Psalm 27, “Whom shall I fear? Of whom shall I be afraid?” are not rhetorical for the Ukrainians, or the citizens of other countries threatened by invading armies and brutal regimes. But the stage need not be so large: these questions are personal for the abused spouse, the LGBTQ+ teen, the newly sober mom who can’t stop craving the alcohol hidden in her cupboard, or our children watching TikTok and wondering where war will strike next. There are plenty of enemies for us to fear and Psalm 27 names their place and their power. In her commentary on Psalm 27, Lindsay P. Armstrong writes, “Psalm 27 maintains gritty honesty as it dances back and forth between fear and trust.” (Feasting on the Word: Year C) It’s this honesty that keeps me turning to the psalms during times of stress or fear. The psalmist’s no-spin version of faith isn’t trying to sell us anything or force an agenda. He’s just straight-up sharing his experience of God. And it’s not all positive. You can find the rest of the commentary on our website. | 
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