Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Today’s text

Psalm 27:1-3

The Lord is my light and my salvation;
   whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life;
   of whom shall I be afraid?

When evildoers assail me
   to devour my flesh—
my adversaries and foes—
   they shall stumble and fall.

Though an army encamp against me,
   my heart shall not fear;
though war rise up against me,
   yet I will be confident.

 Reflection

The new day comes, and your voice appears in the depth of my heart, inviting me to live, to throw myself into the day.

“Give yourself away," you tell me. “Hold nothing back. Pour out the strength of your heart, sharing what is in you with the people you meet and the challenges that come.

“Fear nothing, for I am your light and salvation. You dwell in the enclosure of my divine heart. I am strong walls of protection that will not let you be crushed.”

But I know so many are crushed. I see it in my office almost every day, souls bearing the wounds of living that they have carried for decades, scars for which full healing may never come.

Where was their protection? Where is their healing? Where were you when they were wounded? Where are you now to protect them and drive away their fears?

“I am ever here,” you say in my heart. “I am always here, the inner home of love where the deep of your soul touches the Source, the Eternal Soul that I am.

“Though my beloved suffer pains of living and come too soon to their end, there is no end to me, and I take them into myself even as they have always been in me, and I in them.

“You know this. You know you dwell in my love in those moments when you come once more to the end of your hope and strength and turn your eyes to skies … or to that still point within where the flame of love burns … and you know.

“You know I am that flame that warms you. You know nothing can extinguish it. You know no matter what comes, I am, love abides, always.

“There is no predicting all that may happen today or tomorrow. But fear has no place, for I am your today and your tomorrow.

“I do not flee or leave. I am the stronghold of love and life that surrounds and protects you. My walls enclose about you. I am present and near, working in ways you cannot see and will never know.

“Know this, though: I am, and there will never be a day I am not.

“I am, and you can throw your heart and mind, body and strength into whatever you face and do today. Let confidence be your face this day.

“And tomorrow, we will rise and do it all again, for I am your light and salvation. You have nothing to fear.”

Pr. David L. Miller