Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say to the LORD, “My refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.” -- Psalm 91:1-6
It’s pouring rain here in Florida, again. The lightning alerts go off on my iPhone about every 15 minutes reminding all of us who love to play outside, to get ourselves to shelter. It doesn’t bother me much from my office at church, other than the fact that when it’s quitting time, all three of my umbrellas are unhandily packed in the trunk of my car.
One of the things that surprises me about Florida is the generalized anxiety expressed when it rains. I’ve noticed that people look towards the sky as if imagining golf ball sized hail at any moment, a phenomenon I have yet to experience. When it rains on a Sunday morning, some people invariably stay home from worship, as if there were three feet of snow to navigate. To be clear, we never closed church up north in Maine as some worshippers would snowshoe to church regardless of the weather.
I’m curious about these things in uncertain times. Where do you find shelter from these storms? What makes you feel safe? When was the last time you experienced it? For decades when I visited my folks back in the Midwest, I’d walk to my grade school at the end of our block. You see, there were steps leading up to a private door for the kindergarten children. And on the right of the steps, a brick wall had cut outs just big enough for an industrious child to climb and sit. Perched there twenty feet above the ground, I went there late in the day to be alone. As the school was built on top of a bluff, I felt like a bird secure in my aerie, far from all childhood concerns. That was my safe place as a child, a memory I return to still when the world closes in.
There’s much that frightens us today, more dangerous than lightning, which only killed 226 people nationwide over the last ten years. I suppose you could be more nervous about this if you’re male, as 177 of those fatalities were men. Or you guys could just remember to come in out of the rain.
Ultimately our safety does not depend on external circumstances. Our protection comes from the Source of life, that wired us for survival against all odds. Our bodies will deteriorate to be sure, and we will all one day die of something. Yet God is now and always will be our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
God’s grace, mercy and, peace be with you,
Rev. Dr. Anna V. Copeland
The Community Church of Vero Beach, Florida
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