Flee Time

The Earthquake, The Hurricane, and The Search for Gadhafi
God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change,
though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea;
though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble with its tumult.
There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy habitation of the Most High. (Portion of Psalm 46)
I felt the earth move under my feet – remember Carole King’s lyrics. This time it wasn’t love, it was a real live seismic event – close to 6.0 on the Richter Scale. The earthquake is now history, but now Irene is bearing down on the eastern coastline from the Carolinas to New England and all things in between. Category 2 or 3, it still will mean some significant destruction because of its high winds and its high water. And then there is the seismic, earth shaking events in the Libya and the Middle East. Decades of a horrid dictatorship are ending. Earthquakes, hurricanes, changes in the international geo-political map, and yes a volatile economy…. while some of the change we applaud, at times like this we feel like everything is out of control and we look for some center of solitude that can calm us during the chaos.
The verb for the Hebrew word translated “refuge” means to “flee.” Some days we just want to flee from “it all.” And the text says we need to look for a stream – water is so important in the Israel and the Middle East because it is in such short supply. It is not the powerful roaring and foaming waters that bring refreshment and solace…it is the almost inaudible stream that brings shalom, peace.
Today I watched the birds on the feeder in my back yard and then went to sit by one of the many salt water lakes near my home on Cape Cod. It reminded me that when all things seem to be out of control, God in the background can bring our souls to gladness and peace if we take the “flee” time that is so often at a premium. I recommend some flee time even when the earth isn’t shaking and the waters aren't roaring and foaming.
Getting Ready for Our Date with Irene on Cape Cod,