Whole Heart Hallelujah

This Psalm is the first of several that begin, “Alleluia!” It is like the moment we hear good news that we have been waiting for and we let out a “hoop and a holler” or a “woo hoo!” The mixture of joy and relief is a powerful emotional combination. And it turns out that the expression of praise and gratitude is important for making it through the bad times. Science tells us that serotonin, the “feel good” chemical in our brains, is one of the essential elements of well-being. In the midst of living with a lot of bad news, we can be depleted in ways that are harmful to our resilience. Offering our whole hearts in praise even for small things can keep us going when the going is rough.