The Passage:

When the Lord brought back the captives to Zion, we were like ones who dreamed. Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said amongst the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them.” The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy. Restore our fortunes, O Lord, like streams in the Negev. Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy. The one who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves.

Plsam 126, NIV, adjusted for gender inclusive language.

And now God, do it again — bring rains to our drought-stricken lives so those who planted crops in despair will shout hurrahs at the harvest. So those who went off with heavy hearts, will come home laughing, with armloads of blessing.

Phrases that rose up during lectio:

we were like ones who dreamed…

…our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy

…and now Lord, do it again — bring rain to our drought stricken lives.

…let those who plant in sorrow, reap with songs of joy.

The collage:

I have a friend who is quite literally sowing with tears of sorrow. She has experienced abandonement and betrayal, upheaveal and heartache. She digs around her eggplant and her cold weather greens and she tells me her tale. She weaps with sorrow.

I made this little book for her. It’s filled with tropical flowers and curled fiddle head ferns–each one impossibly lush and fertile. It is a prayer for me and a talisman of hope for her — that within one season she may reap with songs of joy.

We are like ones who dream.

Amen, may it be so.