Welcome! (And Psalm 91.)

 Welcome!

I go by Gabriel ("God is my Strength") Zadok ("Righteousness"), or just plain Gabe in day-to-day life.  I identify as gender fluid for my gender, with they/them pronouns; and Conservative Jewish, but much more religious than most Conservative Jews, as my religion.  This blog is my place to explore both; and I hope to post daily on something in either category.

For April 21st, I am posting about Psalm 91, my favorite.  Text below, in translation.  (Translation from military siddur, or prayerbook):

"You who dwell in the secret shelter of the most high, abiding in the shadow of the Almighty, I call the Eternal my refuge and fortress, my God in Whom I trust.  For He will save You from the hidden snare, from deadly pestilence; God's wing will cover you and under God's wings you will find refuge.  God's faithfulness is your shield and armor.  Fear not terror by night nor the arrow that flies by day, the pestilence that stalks in darkness nor the plague that rages at noon.  A thousand may fall to your left, and ten thousand to your right, it will never touch you.  You have made the Eternal your refuge, the Most High your haven.  No evil shall befall you; no plague shall approach your dwelling.  God will instruct His angels to guard you in all your paths, to carry you in their hands lest you hit your foot against a stone.  You will step on cubs and cobras, tread safely on lions and serpents.  (God says): "Since he is devoted to me, I will deliver him; I will protect him because he cares for me.  When he calls to me I will answer; I will be with him in times of trouble.  I will rescue him and honor him.  I will satisfy him with fullness of days, and show him my salvation.  I will satisfy him with fullness of days, and show him my salvation!"

What a psalm! What to say about it? (Forgive the undeveloped thoughts, it is 1:00 am.)   Psalm 91 has always been "my" psalm.  My first religion blog (in college, about a decade ago already) was called Carried in His Hands, after this very psalm.  At my Grandpa's funeral (my first Jewish funeral, or funeral of any kind) this psalm was recited, as at all Jewish funerals; and I was connected to my Grandpa in his death as we never had been in his lifetime.  When it came time to shovel dirt over the casket, I even did a bonus shovel full in honor of this psalm.

For me, this psalm neatly covers all the dangers of life and how God delivers from them all.  It's been a meaningful way for me to connect to the God I worship daily.

That is all.