As I was walking and talking with God the other morning on the streets on Panajachel I looked up in the trees to see the birds that were singing a glorious morning tune. In that moment a feather floated down from the sky twirling until it landed right in front of me. I was reminded of the scripture, “He will cover you with feathers and under his wings you will find refuge.” (Psalm 91:4) In the message it says, “You who sit down in the High God’s presence, spend the night in Shaddai’s shadow… His huge outstretched arms protect you — under them you are perfectly safe.” In that moment it is as if the camera lens I was looking through was turned into focus and I once again could see vividly how much the Lord cares for me, his child. This year the word “Home” does not really represent the building I will lay my head to sleep in each night, but it does still represent the physical place where I will lay my head. That physical place is not a building at all, because it is in the Lord’s shadow, in the Lord’s presence and in His arms.
I guess I learned this lesson pretty early on in my life as I moved every 2 years and came to know that my family and God were the only constants in my life. I knew that God would always be with me wherever I went and my family and God became my concept of “home.” Now, we move from place to place every month and even then are not staying in the same place every night. We are gypsies, wanderers and well “missionaries.” I knew this coming into the World Race, that we would be without permanent shelter, living in tents and people’s homes. But, I did not realize once again that God was reminding me that HE IS MY HOME. God is my refuge and it is in His presence and in His shadow that I will find comfort. He is my safe place and the place I will run to.
God is reminding me that as I break and relinquish comforts that he has me wrapped up tightly in his loving arms. It is in this place of safety and complete trust in my heavenly Father that I am unfolded and unglued –the place where I can unravel and become completely real, vulnerable, naked and broken for the world to see. There is freedom in the place you call “Home.” So here I am allowing the Lord to “cover me with feathers.”
