Take Refuge

I long to dwell in Your tent forever
and take refuge in the shelter
of Your wings.
-Psalms 61:4


There was a place I’d go
when I was small,
deep in the woods,
deep in my dreams.
The rain fell down,
I ducked inside the trees
that hid me from the world.

You’d patch my hopes
with shades of green,
when light poured through
our fort of leaves.
I used to laugh,
so pure, so free,
and all the life
within my lungs
slipped sweetly through
Your beams.

My eyes flew wide awake
in the middle of the day,
I was so sheltered
in the words that You would say.
Take me to the top of branches
filled with song,
melodies the trees whispered
and You and I would sing along.

Autumn’s bitter browns
decayed and turned to rust,
brought sparks of fire,
floods of rain,
a hundred weeks of wonder
spilled and spinning to the ground.
As moons passed by,
years lined my brow,
the color in my veins,
once bold,
lay bleaching in Your palms.

My eyes flew wide awake
in the middle of the day,
I was so sheltered
in the words that You would say.
Take me to the top of branches
filled with song,
melodies the trees whispered
and You and I would sing along.

Take me back
to where we danced,
a swirling love,
bright in my hands.



Prayer:
Father, please shelter me in the loving arms I ran to when I was young. Sweep me in Your sweetness, in Your comfort and strength. Tuck me into You, soothe me with Your unshakable promises when the world around me shivers. Rest with me, sing to me, let me feel bright brilliance once again. Amen.