Shadow
/Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I shall fear no evil; *
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
- Psalm 23:4
Of all the psalms to be scheduled for this week, here it is - psalm 23. What good timing! This is the psalm most often traditionally prayed in times of grief, trouble or danger. It’s not a tame prayer that simply ponders the prettiness of sunshine and flowers. It’s a prayer about your enemies being as close as your own dinner table and about walking through the valley of the shadow of death. Life is full of enemies, both literal and figurative, and in everyone’s life the possibility of death is never as far away as we would like to think. Psalm 23 boldly declares, however, that even though this is so, our God is right there with us at the table. God is right there with us walking through that lonely valley, guiding us and protecting us, no matter what happens.
As faithful people, we follow the good shepherd and trust in Christ’s protection in every part of this life - both the times when that is simple to do (like the sunny days) and in those times when it’s much harder to trust in God (like when there’s a worldwide pandemic.) As Paul wrote: Live as children of light— for the fruit of the light is found in all that is good and right and true.
Sometimes the darkness seems to overshadow all that is good and right and true. But the light that has into the world, shines in the darkness, and the darkness can not overcome it.
I’m looking forward to tuning into Bishop Rob’s Sunday service online this Sunday morning with you all, and I hope you’ll also join us afterward for the St. James Zoom gathering for virtual coffee hour. Be watching the informational emails we’re sending for further info on both.
