“For with you is the fountain of life; in your light do we see light. ” (Psalm 36:9)

Early morning quiet and I walk in stillness with a sense of you near, keenly aware that I am in a good place with the One who loves me best of all.

No sounds to interrupt except birds twittering and geese honking far off in the distance as my steady pace stays in step with you. In the crisp, tranquil air I move with my mind resting in the hammock of your presence, my heart hushed as you make yourself known.

No one to meet with, but you. No appointment or deadline or needs to attend to, make right, set in motion. Just calm and peace pervading for a sliver of time until my feet retrace the path, and I cross the threshold into home.

Then the day gallops forward at a maddening speed and a hundred different voices call my name. Yours supersedes. You bring Psalm 91 to my attention. “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.” Earlier in the day you overshadowed me; in the commotion swirling around, you also draw near. The dictionary as a bright light describes a shelter as something beneath, behind or within which protects from storms, missiles, or adverse conditions.

You are that shelter for us.

You are Savior, and we are the ones desperately in need of being saved. You are Helper, and we are those it seems always in need. You are the Rescuer who comes to our aide when we are drowning and out of our depth.

You are mercy as we live with so much stacked against us. You are steadfast love when we are constantly wavering, running on empty, and fragile. You are armloads of compassion for when we are bruised and wounded and knowing great lack.

You are faithful and true, while we are always casting about with no anchor. You are Healer and we the patient prone to disease and broken places. You are the Hope of the world with weaponry to fight off our despair.

You are unwavering, endless, all-encompassing love for all the times we run with arms outstretched to you.

“The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:22-23).

Elizabeth A Mitchell

Photo Credit: Bill Mitchell