Leaves and Life

“But you, O Lord, be not far off; O my Strength, come quickly to help me.”— Psalm 22:19

When I was a kid, I used to throw leaves and sticks off a bridge on my parent’s property.

This low-set concrete bridge over culvert pipes afforded my brother and I endless hours of play, particularly when it came to throwing leaves off one end and watching them emerge seconds later on the other side. We watched them swirl and weave around rocks and sticks until they disappeared down the creek into the great unknown.

I have been reflecting on swirling leaves and my life and thinking how closely they parallel these last months. This fall has been challenging, rewarding, and also contemplative. Transitions of my son moving to college, a father dying, new challenges as my mom figures out her life, new classes, and time on the couch with colds has left me feeling a lot like that leaf in the creek: moving this way and that, getting stuck at times, and swirling around without direction to that great unknown.

As I observe our current political scene, yet another horrible shooting tragedy in California, and a general feeling of unease and concern for our country’s direction, I think I can safely say that on some levels, we all may feel like that leaf in our own lives…

As I wander, sometimes away from God’s presence, sometimes closer to it, I am reminded of David’s words in Psalm 22:19– “But you, O Lord, be not far off; O my Strength, come quickly to help me.” David’s trust in God, though he faced mountains of problems, did not waver. Though he wandered away from God’s presence at times, then came back closer, he knew his God was there for Him.

Close by. Ready to come quickly.

Are you like that leaf in swirling waters today? Are you floating through life, wondering where you are going, getting stuck here and there, at the mercy to the world around you?

As the waters and rocks of life pull you this way and that, look towards God, He is not far off, and He will come quickly to help you. He will be your strength in the darkest hours, you can count on Him!

Prayer—“Gracious God, you are my Strength and close by me. Open my heart and mind to simply trust in You and Your path for my life. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.”