Dios todavia habla (God is still speaking)

The following are a couple of psalms that have taken on new meaning for me over the course of this experience on the border. Psalm 22 is read as a migrant who is struggling through the desert, running a gauntlet of heat, snakes, cactus and bandits to have an opportunity to create a better life for oneself and his/her family.

Psalm 22:
My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? And are so far from my cry and from the words of my distress?
O my God, I cry in the daytime, but you do not answer; by night as well, but I find no rest.
Yet you are the Holy One, enthroned upon the praises of Israel.
Our ancestors put their trust in you; they trusted, and you delivered them.
They cried out to you and were delivered; they trusted in you and were not put to shame.
But as for me, I am a worm and not a man, scorned by all and despised by the people.
All who see me laugh me to scorn; they curl their lips and wag their heads, saying,
“He trusted in the Lord; let the Lord deliver him;
Let God rescue him, if God delights in him.”
Yet you are the one who took me out of the womb, and kept me safe upon my mother’s breast.
I have been entrusted to you ever since I was born; you were my God when I wasstill in my mother’s womb.
Be not far from me, for trouble is near, and there is none to help.
Many young bulls encircle me; strong bulls of Bashan surround me.
They open wide their jaws at me, like a ravening and roaring lion.
I am poured out like water; all of my bones are out of joint; my heart within my breast is melting wax.
My mouth is dried out like a pot-sherd; my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth; and you have laid me in the dust of the grave.
Packs of dogs close me in, and gangs of evildoers circle around me; they pierce my hands and my feet; I can count all my bones.
They stare and gloat over me; they divide my garments among them; they cast lots for my clothing.
Be not far away, O Lord; you are my strength; hasten to help me.
Save me from the sword, my life from the power of the dog.
Save me from the lion’s mouth, my wretched body from the horns of wild bulls.
I will declare your name to the community; in the midst of the congregation I will praise you.
Praise the Lord, you that are God-fearing; stand in awe of the Lord, O offspring of Israel; all you of Jacob’s line, give glory.
For the Lord does not despise nor abhor the poor in their poverty; neither is the Lord’s face hidden from them; but when they cry out, the Lord hears them.
My praise is of God in the great assembly; I will perform my vows in the presence of those who worship the Lord.
The poor shall eat and be satisfied, and those who seek the Lord shall give praise: “May your heart live forever!”
All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to God, and all the families of the nations shall bow before the Lord.
For sovereignty belongs to the Lord, who rules over the nations.
To the Lord alone all who sleep in the earth bow down in worship; all who go down to the dust fall before the Lord.
My soul shall live for God; my descendants shall serve the Lord; they shall be known as the Lord’s forever.
They shall come and make known to a people yet unborn the saving deeds that God has done.


Psalm 23 is read from the same perspective with an emphasis on the fact that the valley between the two mountain ranges in southern Arizona is referred to as the “Devil’s Highway.”

Psalm 23:
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not be in want.
You make me lie down in green pastures and lead me beside still waters.
You revive my soul and guide me along right pathways for your name’s sake.
Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
You spread a table before me in the presence of those who trouble me; you have anointed my head with oil, and my cup is running over.
Surely your goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.