The Psalmist sings, “Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me under the shadow of your wings.” (Psalm 17:8)
The image of God as a spirit bird enfolding me in her wings is what has come to me over the previous two years as I battled an energy crisis with hypothyroidism. I came to know “the voice of the Lord is over the waters” (Psalm 28:3) like the spirit bird hovering over the waters and over all the chaos in our world. Then this knowing became even closer to me.
When I was wrecked, depleted, exhausted, when I could only lie still and breathe in – breathe out – breathe in – breathe out, I sensed a closeness of God’s spirit bird hovering over me, holding me. I was awash with a powerful force receiving the fruit of the spirit – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. It gave me contentment in a powerless place knowing God is over the chaos in me. Ω
Reflect: Imagine God’s spirit hovering over you now, sheltering you under her wings. Let her hold you. Rest in the feeling of closeness and love. Now wonder: When have you felt powerless or in chaos? Could she have been hovering over you at that harder time, too.
What is this? Lent is the 40 days, excluding Sundays, before Easter. Traditionally it is a time of reflection and pilgrimage. To help you on this journey, Sanctuary has put together 40 stories from people both within and beyond the congregation, with associated questions for reflection and prayer. A reading will be uploaded every day of Lent. This year’s theme is Fruit of the Spirit. Why? Read this. #Lent2022. Real People, Real Stories: 40 Readings for Lent © Sanctuary, 2022.
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