Riding Out the Storm Together


 

Can you see them? They are very easy to miss. If you look closely you can see two doves seeking shelter together. On a recent day when the wind was howling away at a steady 40 miles an hour, I noticed the pair finding refuge on the ground under some bushes. Heads tucked in tight and low, they had given up flying for the moment. Instead, they had hunkered down to ride out the storm.
The Psalmist writes, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling.” The power of the Psalms is found in the honesty of the words, not only in regard to our emotions but in their depiction of life itself. Even those who trust in God know trouble of various kinds. Faith does not make us immune from the struggles and suffering life brings. Faith guides us into a life of love and compassion and service, but it also offers us “refuge and strength” in times of trouble. Like the doves, faith can provide a little space in which we can ride out the storm.
As this particular Psalm came to mind, what stood out to me was the poet’s use of the words “our” and “we”. Like the doves, we do not endure the storm alone. Not only is God with us, faith brings us to each other. We are there for one another. We are there with one another. Even in the storm, we are blessed by those who endure with us.
Peace.

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