This school year has had very, very odd weather. In the fall semester, we had hurricane strength winds hit us. For some this might not be odd, but I live in a land-locked state. I’m roughly 440 miles from the closest beach, so hurricane strength winds are not a normal thing.
February 14th brought two storms that have been fondly named the Snowpocalypse of 2021. Not odd for northern states, but I live in the south. We normally get a dusting at least once a year, but these two storms in one week dumped 15 inches on us. I actually got snowed in for an entire week at my parents’ home (an hour away from my house). Thankfully, we didn’t lose power and I was able to work remotely. I’m even more grateful that my 90 year old house didn’t spring any leaks!
Then last Sunday we had a tornado warning. No watch, just a warning out of nowhere. As I grabbed my phone and started notifying staff to spread the word to students, I started trying to figure out where I would go. Tornadoes aren’t anything new. I’ve lived here long enough to know where tornadoes typically hit and the best way to take cover. My mom suggested my crawl space, ha! 🙂 I have a closet under my stairs that is in the very center of my house. I grabbed supplies and hunkered down for about 30 minutes. Rotation was seen, but never actually touched down.
After I came out of the stairway closet, and I put my house back together from my frenzied grabbing of items, I started thinking about Psalm 118. Specifically, verse 8 and 9, “It is better to take refuge in the Lord then to trust in man. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes.” Taking refuge strikes me as a physical action. I had to take refuge in the closet because of the tornado warning. I couldn’t just think about getting into the closet, I physically had to place myself there.
In some situations, I don’t have a problem taking refuge as in the tornado example above. Other situations are harder for me. One of those situations surrounded my adventure for this month. I pulled #4, “Write your own song of worship to the Lord.” When I pulled this out at the beginning of the month, it struck fear in my heart. Nothing felt comfortable! I enjoy writing, but poetry is not a language my brain understands. As I sat about trying to figure out how to write a song of worship, I tried to focus on Psalm 118 and what the author was trying to convey.
Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever…Out of my distress I called on the Lord; the Lord answered me and set me free.
Psalm 118:1, 5
These two verses conveyed what the Psalmist knew of the Lord. Hmmmmm, maybe I could do this for my song of worship. Often times the chaos of my life overwhelms me. Just like the chaos of all the weather has overwhelmed me at points this year. So I decided to try and focus on what I know of the Lord and how He is my refuge.
- He is steadfast, even when I am not.
- He is loving, even when I can’t feel it.
- He is trustworthy, even when I am fearful.
- He is security, even when I am uncertain.
- He pursues, even when I hide.
- He is sabbath, even when I am busy.
- He is eternal, I am finite.
May the Lord be your refuge today.
Adventures of a Single Pretzel 