Refuge

God is our refuge and strength,
    an ever-present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
    and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar and foam
    and the mountains quake with their surging.
-Psalm 64:1-3




Let's do something different today. There are so many words being put out there right now. So many perspectives to read, so many things to scroll, so much to get anxious about. Many of those things are valid; some are a result of our inability to disconnect from things that spike our dopamine levels up and down and increase our rage, our anxiety, or our sense of superiority. 

This week I'm not desiring to add to that. Today I'm drawn to simply remember God's holy invitation to take a step during the storms (whatever they may be) to find refuge in his presence. 

The earliest writings about God in the scriptures speak of God as "refuge," a "shelter," an "ever-present" place of protection. Many of us have experienced that. And yet, we often neglect the opportunities to shelter in God because it requires stepping away from the raging winds for a few moments, and for whatever reason, we find that to be very difficult. 
What if we miss something important!? What if we don't feel productive or helpful for an hour?!
Can we trust that God gives us permission to breathe deeply and exhale slowly? 

I'm fascinated by how just a little movement can shift our perspective and re-ground us in our identity. Turning off a phone, having a cup of tea, reading a book, sitting deeply with a prayer, taking a slow walk with Jesus, sitting in stillness and listening for the reassuring whisper of God. 

I've come to learn in that even in the midst of intense seasons where the wind is always whipping, God's refuge is never more than a few feet (or choices) away. 

I was given an embodied lesson of this deep truth while I was finishing a sabbatical pilgrimage last year walking from Scotland to the coast of England. I want to share a 90 second video from that experience. Don't worry, you don't need to hear what I'm saying in the first 15 seconds. You won't be able to anyways, the wind is too loud. That's kind of the point. (click the picture to view)

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So today, friend, what steps will you take to seek out shelter and find some rest in God's care? 

Jesus, shelter me from all sides on the days the storm rages. 
Peace,
Keith