The Rich Inner Life of the Poet-Sufferer

"The plowers plowed on my back; they made their furrows long."  Psalm 129:3

This is the common testimony of the suffering ones.  No matter the nature of their experiences, or the extent or magnitude of their pain all sufferings one may identify with these words.  These words are the testimony of deliberate and malevolent abuse.  The plow is an ancient farm tool used to gouge trenches into the land in order to plant seeds.  The ancient one who wrote these words used the word picture of this vital farming tool  to illustrate what the experience of abusive suffering had gouged into his soul.

"The plowers plowed upon his back."  Notice the plural noun used by the suffering one.  He does not say the  plower plowed upon his back.  He speaks of "plowers."  It is a frightening picture of common abusive action heaped upon a helpless one.  It is good that these words appear in the Scriptures.  They may be ancient but they contain a timeless and poignant observation.

The evidence of abuse was etched upon his back.  Upon his back was written by his own poignant narrative. Upon his back were wounds that told his story.  Cut into his back was the story of his own suffering that resonates into our own time.  How many today bear upon their backs stories of suffering hidden by the colorful cloth shirts, dresses, or coats?

The plowers plow deep into the soul and attempt to erase one's unique identity.  The poet knew this to be true.  He further states:  "...they made their furrows long."  The poet relates an insidious detail for us.  He takes us on an imaginary journey wherein we are enjoined to step out of  mere observational objectivity.

He wants the reader of his testimony to enter into the matrix of suffering that had been his lot.  He does not want to overthrow the reader's sense of personal safety nor threaten the reader's psychological boundaries, and he does not want a clinical or theological explanation of his ordeal.  He wants something more and enduring.  He wants a compelling witness who is not afraid to look upon the attempt to ruin his life.

The poet-sufferer records what was done to him by inventive treachery.  He has not kept silent about what was done to him.  He has conquered the attempts to steal as it were his very life.  He relates that many times he had been afflicted from his youth.  However, his abusers were not aware of his secret life with the Iesous.  The spiritual life of  the poet kept him sober under the chronic lash of his abusers.

Mindfulness is an ancient spiritual practice.  The poet sufferer's world made sense because of his rich inner life.  In the midst of his darkness he could rely on the presence of God.  The presence of God within turned the collective intent of the plowers into a testimony of deliverance.  His rich spiritual life interpreted his experience of suffering, therefore he would not be neither betrayed nor overwhelmed by immoral evil.

The presence of God made all the difference.  I say again, the presence of God made all the difference in his life.  This is reality outside the psychoanalytic veil of projection.  God is real, and the poet knew Him.  The power of God is not limited by the claims of men who whither and die.  The power of God resides within the hearts of those who diligently seek Him out.

Beloved take you experience of the plowers to God and let Him administer the Balm of Healing to your trauma (wounds).

Blessings to you.

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