refuge |ˈrefˌyoōj; -ˌyoō zh |
noun
a condition of being safe or sheltered from pursuit, danger, or trouble
• something providing such shelter : the family came to be seen as a refuge from a harsh world.
ORIGIN late Middle English : from Old French, from Latin refugium, from re- ‘back’ + fugere ‘flee.’

Today has me thinking a little more about the term refuge. I need a refuge today. Right now I'm sitting on the second floor of the Texas Woman's Campus in the Texas Medical Center. But in a couple of hours I am leaving and I'm not coming back until the hurricane passes. I think it's interesting that we have a very heightened awareness of our physical needs and we make all kinds of provisions for our physical safety. Tomorrow's classes are being cancelled...bottles of water are being stockpiled...hundreds of extraneous phone calls are being made to check on everyone.

Many times in our life we face emotional or mental storms that threaten to tear us apart from the inside out. Where is our shelter from those storms?

This is a photo of Virginia Lane, my street. The shade of the trees, the subtle hills, the familiar faces all help me to settle into peace when I arrive home. I'm learning little more with every storm I face that God is strong enough to protect me and guide me to safety.

For in the day of trouble He will keep me safe in his dwelling;
he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle and set me high upon a rock. -Psalm 27:5

Labels: peace