Reflection
The season of Advent always brings me back to my childhood and teenage years. Despite having very little, my mother ensured I was surrounded by books of poetry, drama, and stories. Even today I fondly recall the family tradition of reading in December evenings by the light of the Christmas tree. My favorites—especially J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings and C.S. Lewis’s Narnia chronicles—were always the ones that centered on groups of people banding together to appeal for justice.
It’s no surprise, then, that as an English professor, I encounter today’s reading as a magnificent piece of poetry, replete with human ideals and aspirations. The plea to endow the king with "judgment" and "justice" is an appeal for divine wisdom. It speaks to a timeless understanding that true authority is measured by how it treats those who have no one to help them.
While this psalm strikes me deeply during this time of reflection, offering powerful human truth, it also prompts a question: How might I be a conduit for this good judgment and wisdom for my students? How can I help those who need it most in this season? Perhaps by seeking out opportunities in my classes to champion voices that are often unheard or marginalized, thereby giving real shape to this psalm’s divine call for equity and compassion.
In this season, I hope we all find hope and joy in seeking out those who need us the most.
Jason Crum, Ph.D.
Department of English