Russellings of the Spirit

This morning as Patrick the dog and I set out on our morning walk, there was a strange stillness in the air. It was chilly enough for me to see my breath. We turned left out of our cul-de-sac and headed north. The sun beamed out of a clear, blue sky, bathing the street with a peaceful golden light.

Each of my steps was audible. A car horn sounded in the distance.

As we turned west, I stopped… my gaze arrested. This is the sight I saw on the horizon, illuminated by the newly risen sun:

This is Horsetooth Rock, one of the signature hills immediately to the west of our home here in Fort Collins, Colorado. Suddenly the words of Psalm 121 sprang to mind… “I lift up my eyes to the hills – from where will my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.” (Psalm 121:1-2, NRSV).

I stopped, stunned and reverent. At that moment I realized that “lifting my eyes to the hills” was exactly what I was doing.

Peace suddenly poured over me.

Patrick didn’t understand why I was suddenly standing in the middle of the sidewalk, mute and motionless. He tugged at the leash as if to say, “Come on, dude… let’s get back to our walk. There are SQUIRRELS on the next block! I know it!”

At that moment, I understood what the Psalmist meant… in a way I never had before. In their granite silence, the hills sang me a song of stability… strength… and unshakable resilience. They reminded me of all they have witnessed, since they first thrust themselves up from the level ground.

They spoke to me of floods, fires, and famines. They told the stories of pestilence, anarchy, and war. They testified to horror, panic, and chaos that, they swear, once threatened to shred the fabric of life itself.

But more than that, they bore mute testimony of the steadfastness of the One who created them… the One who endures to this day, the One who has never reneged on his promise of faithfulness.

They told me, “He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber.” (v. 3).

As I stood there, regarding the wisdom of their witness, I smiled…

… because I believed them!

And you can too.