Psalm 61, 34 8.22.21
After a long day on the Appalachian Trail, it is a welcome sight to see the outlines of a wooden three-sided shelter. The shelter is a place of protection from the elements, whether the cold wind in the fall or winter or early spring, or the rain any time of the year. It is also at least a little bit of protection from forest animals of all sorts. At least it feels like any animal could potentially come a lot closer if you were in a tent. By making use of the shelter, you can rest, you can relax, you can be warmer and drier than you would be without the shelter. A structure can definitely provide shelter.
In another sense, so can a mother’s arms. During this past week with our grandchildren around and interacting with one another, I saw the “mommy shelter” in action. Our grandson Paxton is 18 months old. He loves to play with his sister and his cousin, mostly by taking the toy they are playing with to another place in the room. He laughs and teases with adult family members and loves to run and climb. Until his mother walks in the room. Just a glimpse of her makes him cry uncontrollably and reach his hands out for her until he can find refuge in her arms, hugging her neck and smiling immediately. It is very difficult to distract him, even with daddy, and he is inconsolable until he finds himself wrapped in the sheltering arms of his mommy. We all recognize this as a stage of child development, and surely it will pass as he grows.
Continue reading “God the Shelter”
Hunting Ridge Presbyterian Church 