Need to scroll less? Try this.
Need to scroll less? Try this.
Transcribing the Psalms as a way to quiet the heart and focus the mind
The ancients scrolled too. A lot. Their obsession with scrolling has helped humanity thrive for thousands of years.
For many of us, scrolling doesn't help us thrive. At most it fills the time; at worst it nurtures doom.
The last few weeks I’ve written about putting down the phone and connecting with ancient friends in order to tune out the world, and to splice more wisdom from great thinkers into life’s journey.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m not a technophobe. And I don’t hate my contemporaries 😅.
I’m on devices all the time, love gadgets, and spend my days connected to the internet of things with people all over the world (on Zoom).
Which is why I need strategies to ground me in the natural world, in scripture, and that help to shut out the noise.
Move over, doomscrolling!
Transcribing the Psalms has been a project a few years in the making. On Wednesday mornings I set aside time to write out, word for word, a Psalm. I started writing out passages on homemade journals, pages stained and steeped in coffee, when I had time to do such things.1
I haven't been perfectly consistent with it. Sometimes I have trouble reading my own writing. It's always good.
I don't (usually) start over if I make a mistake. I'm an imperfect scribe who would have been fired from the job of transposing the Septuagint.
This week I wrote out Psalm 105. It’s wonderful.
And yes, Psalm 119 is staring me down. It feels like I’m stepping toward a dangerous, oncoming train. It could take a few months to write that sucker out. I’m intimidated.
But every time I write out a passage I can’t help but appreciate the care of scribes through the centuries. Their diligent work transcribing scrolls preserved the texts so that we can read them today.
As I visit these ancient scrolls, words come alive. Verses open up with insight and meaning. The simple act of slowing reading, taking the word in, writing it carefully down, spelling it out and re-reading to ensure accuracy helps it stick.
Like oatmeal to ribs. Like honey to a rock.
If you’re looking for a way to step out of the river wild streaming all around you and want some mental clarity, I highly recommend transcribing a Psalm.
It’s a wonderfully analog activity in our digital world that will ground you. Pick a passage of scripture. Or a favourite poem or text and let tried and tested words settle in to your mind and heart.
It’ll do you you a lot of good.
Likes are an ancient way to show love. If you enjoyed this article let me know or share it with someone to spark some hope.
Timely reminder for me, thanks!
What a first line too “The ancients scrolled a lot too.”😆👏🏼