MONDAY, May 3

Psalm 57. In the shadow of your wings will I take refuge.

No one in the climbing party saw the storm coming. From the eastern face of the mountain there was no way of knowing that a major storm was approaching from the west. The minute they realized the weather was going to turn, they ceased their ascent and tried to return to the base camp. It was too late. They had to find shelter on the mountain. They were fortunate to find a formation in the rock face that served as a small cave. They huddled together and soon realized how blessed they were to have found such a place, for the storm contained winds that would have blown them off the mountain. Minutes earlier they had been cursing the rocky face of the mountain for being so tough and unforgiving. Now those very characteristics were keeping them alive.

This story brings to life the imagery of the psalmist. Both the story and the psalm tell of God as a refuge. God provides the haven we need when the winds of life become fierce and dangerous. (2000)

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Ps 56, 57, [58] * 64, 65; Leviticus 16:1-19; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Matthew 6:1-6,16-18

View the daily Lectionary Readings at Satucket.com.
Or view the Bible passages at Biblegateway.com.

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May 03, 2010 at 7:13 am

Written by Steve Doutt,

Pure faith -- blind faith; would not need to be taught. Even though I'm told, in the Word, not to require a sign...I want a sign. I want proof before I give myself over to faith.

Moving Forward

May 03, 2010 at 8:03 am

Written by Stephen,

Not to be platitudinous, there is the adage "seeing to believe" often true, but also turned around "believing to see". For me I have to at times simply suspend my disbelief. I think I make it too hard at times. There is also an idea I like that simply goes "if I find it hard to have faith, let someone else have it for me. Changed lives are always a possible sign.

...

May 03, 2010 at 8:33 am

Written by Mary kier,

This was a beautiful analalogy. When life throws you that ultimate curve God is there with the protection you need at the time.
Sometimes during the darker times it feels like God isn't around. However after you have gotten through the tough times often you see that it was a growth experience.

...

May 03, 2010 at 10:18 am

Written by Andrea,

Not to be a curmudgeon, but I think the analogy in today's meditation buys in a little too much to the "with God, it will all be OK" myth. Sometimes God doesn't give you the protection you need in tough times. I just heard a speech Elie Weisel gave a few years ago, in which he talks about how the people at the concentration camp where he was imprisoned put God on trial. How could God let such a thing happen? How could God be said to be with them, even in a metaphorical sense, in the midst of such suffering and evil? Yes, hard times can be a growth experience, and in retrospect we can see how God was with us sometimes... but not always. Think of people hacked to death in Rwanda... and the children conscripted to do the hacking. Where is God in that? To me, it means that we can't ever know the mind of God, or of the ways in which our human free will complicates God's unending love. But I don't think it's as simple as praying and receiving some mystical shelter from the storm.

...

May 03, 2010 at 11:20 am

Written by alysa,

What this meditation says to me, is that in tough times I can turn to God. I don't need to suffer alone.

Believe that He is . .

May 03, 2010 at 12:15 pm

Written by Gaye Anne McWade,

On a mountain when a storm comes up or on a beach with balmy breezes but sharks . . . My hope is to seek Him and His ways in this life.

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