Becoming Ms. Frizzle

Today my devotional was about Psalm 23:2, and I was thinking about where my green pastures and still waters are. For me, it's sitting with my legs dangling of the cliff walls of Palo Duro Canyon looking down into Ceta Glen Church Camp-the place where so often I discovered pieces of my heart. Every summer for 12 years I would spend at least one week at my beloved church camp worshiping the Lord in one of the most beautiful places I have ever been. It is hard to not see God as an amazing artist when visiting.

Inevitably we would hike to the lit cross at least 2-3 times during the week, but that's not my special place. My special place was sitting next the old wooden cross. We didn't go there often, but every time that we did was a time for spiritual reflection. I remember the soft breeze that caressed my cheek and held me in its warm embrace. I felt completely safe and completely in awe. There never will be another place like my seat on the edge of the canyon rim.

I think there is a metaphor in that cliff. When I was sitting on the edge of disaster I never feared that I was in danger. I felt comforted in God's beauty and imagination, despite the 200 foot drop into the deep ravine. It's like life is the canyon below and God is the cliff above. If we trust in Him and let Him hold us, we are completely safe. But there are hills and mountains that we must climb to get to our destination. Those mountains are so worth it! Nothing can touch you in that moment when God's arms are wrapped fully around you.

It has been four years since I was physically sitting in my favorite spot, but I revisit it in my heart and mind much more frequently. Every time I was in yoga class and the instructor told us to picture the place where we were calmest and most at rest, it was the canyon's edge on the verge of disaster that I always pictured. Today as I'm feeling a little uneasy I picture myself on that cliff, in God's warm embrace. I am comforted to know that God is with me here in my heart. He leadeth me to green pastures, even when I don't want to take a break from my life. He maketh me lie down near quiet streams. He knows what I need so much better than I know myself.

So today, I am on my canyon's edge not waiting patiently or impatiently for anything, just resting in my loving Lord's arms.