To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven. Ecclesiastes 3: 1

Shelter in Place

Last month, before coronavirus was on our radar, the Lord prompted me to write about enduring the ugliness of Mud Season with hope as we look forward to the inevitable future beauties of spring. Well, considering our wet, gloomy weather and the wet, gloomy news day after day, it looks like we're in for a longer, more expanded mud season than usual. Spring is on its way, inevitably, but the virus is spreading so exponentially that for the good of the community, our governor has issued a stay-at-home order.

Staying at home and sheltering in place is wise, both physically and spiritually. The Psalmist David wrote:

Those who live in the shelter of the Most High
    will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
 This I declare about the Lord:
He alone is my refuge, my place of safety;
    he is my God, and I trust him.

For he will rescue you from every trap
    and protect you from deadly disease.
He will cover you with his feathers.
    He will shelter you with his wings.
    His faithful promises are your armor and protection.

Psalm 91: 1 - 4

I don't know about you, but I've always pictured those feathers, those wings to be like the wings of a warm, gentle mother bird, a mourning dove perhaps, cooing as she sits on her nest, and while I still believe that characteristic to be true, I had an experience the other day that opened my eyes to the fierceness of the Lord's protection, too.

I was on my knees in the garden, bent over the raised bed, concentrating on removing the fine-stemmed chickweed and speedwell that had formed a thick carpet over the entire bed. I was looking down, intent on removing every trace when suddenly, over my head, a hawk screamed. I about jumped out of my skin! My heart pounded and every one of those numbered hairs on my head stood on end. The hawk flew to a nearby maple and looked down at me. It struck awe in my heart to look up at him so high above me.

Later, when I was back in the house writing a poem about the experience, I realized that this too, is what it means to be under the shadow of the Lord's wings. It's not always going to be a soft, easy experience. Sometimes, the Lord's fierceness will awe us, frighten us, even. Like Jesus, demonstrating zeal for the house of the Lord by driving the moneychangers out of the temple, the Lord is fiercely intentional on our behalf when he needs to be. This is a great comfort to me. He is God and I am not. Hallelujah! And so. . .

Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So we may boldly say:

“The Lord is my helper;
I will not fear.
What can man do to me?”

Hebrews 13: 5 - 6

We can shelter in place in the Lord's promises and be content, knowing that He loves us and will work all things together for the good of those who love him and are called according to his purpose. He is both hawk and dove, both fierce and gentle. We trust you, Lord, our shelter.

Daye Phillippo

April 2020