Everyone needs a safe place, or maybe more than one. In this section of the country, we all need a safe room or a cellar when tornadoes threaten. In church Sunday, we discussed the word “Sanctuary”. To me, that has always meant a safe place. Maybe that’s why we call the part of our church where we meet each Sunday, a Sanctuary.
Our homes should be safe places where we can come at the end of a day of work. I think it is important to keep our homes welcoming. A clean floor, the scent of cookies baking all seem to say, “You’re home now. You can rest.” But, more important than any of that are the people who wait for us at home at the end of the day. People we love mean safety and rest. Home should be a welcoming, loving face, kind words, helpful hands, a place where we can be ourselves and be appreciated, respected, and loved.
My mom rocked all of us children to sleep. She didn’t know about it being healthier to put us to bed and let us cry ourselves to sleep. She rocked and we, snuggled safely in her arms, slept. A safe place. Dad too, was a refuge when I was quite small. Sitting on my dad’s lap, I felt protected, loved, and rich. And, I’m sure I was. I am reminded of the last line of a poem by Ruth Hulbert Hamilton, “So quiet down, cobwebs; dust, go to sleep! I’m rocking my baby and babies don’t keep.”
God’s love is a safe place for us to go. When everything crumbles around me, I can go to the Lord. Picking up the Bible, I read about the trials of David, who, through all the wars and subterfuge plaguing his reign, found God’s protection. Psalm 91 is a wonderful protection Psalm that is attributed to Moses. I go to Psalm 91 a lot and am reminded that the Lord is my Sanctuary. Sometimes, when my heart is aching and I find no solace anywhere, I can find it in God’s word and prayer.
Just as I need a sanctuary, I can be a sanctuary. You and I can be safe places for friends and loved ones. When they are hurting or troubled or tired, I hope I can be the person they can trust with their feelings, their secrets, and their need to be understood. I hope that I can be an earthly sanctuary and a shelter from the storm.
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