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Psalm
23:4 (NIV)
4 Even though I walk through the
valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your
rod and your staff, they comfort me.
It
was a dark and stormy night. The sky was covered with storm clouds and the
wind was howling across the field. You could hear the crunch of the harvested
corn stalks under your feet with every step. It was just a few days ago that
coyotes had been heard howling in this very field. The wind made an eerie,
almost ghostly sound as it descended on the forest. The trees became animated
wild beasts as they groaned and creaked under the rush of the wind.
This
was no place for a nine year-old little girl to be in the middle of the
night. Fear would certainly be the most dominate force in a little girl's
heart in such a situation, but there was none of it to be felt that night,
when all self respecting little girls would be safely tucked in their beds,
fast asleep.
So
just how does a nine year-old little girl face such fearsome circumstances
and find a great deal of joy in such foreboding situations?
I
had promised Lydia, our nine year-old, that I would take her for a walk in
the woods after I returned from the SIU game and my time with Hannah, our
fifteen year-old daughter. Since there was no school tomorrow Lydia could
stay up until I got home and we went on our walk in the woods.
Hannah
and I returned home after 10 p.m. to find Lydia waiting with great
anticipation for our late night trek through the woods. We set out about
10:30 and walked out across an open field for about half a mile.
As
we began our trek out across the forest we heard an eerie sound coming from
some animal. I looked back and saw a streak of black rushing toward us. Our
flashlights caught the animal but all we could see was the sharp piercing
eyes reflect the light of our flashlights.
Anyone
else would have run for cover but not our Lydia, she was actually quite
thrilled to see this black animal with piercing eyes running towards us.
After all it was only our black cat, Chloe, coming out to walk with us
through the woods.
As
we continued our walk, the moon came out and shone upon our path so we
decided to turn out our flashlights and walk in the quiet blackness in the
midnight forest.
After
walking for a few minutes, Lydia grabbed my hand and said, "Daddy, this
is really fun being with you and I am not even scared."
I
could hear the coyotes howl in the distance and see the eerie shapes the
trees were making as the wind blew and I felt the beat of my heart grow
faster, but I wasn't going to let on, not if my daughter wasn't scared.
It
was then I saw my opportunity and I took it. "Lydia, can you tell me why
you are not scared?"
Her
instant reply was, "Well Dad, it is because I am with you. Why should I
be scared, when I am with you?"
Ok,
now I got it. She was not scared because she was with her dad. So why should
I be scared if I am walking with my Father.
No
matter what you will face, you have no reason for fear for the God who made
you and called you by His name is right there with you. Yes David got it
right, "I will fear no evil for you are with me . . ."
I
think I will go for another walk in the woods at midnight tonight. More to
come after I get back from the late night walk.
Fearing
No Evil,
Pastor Phil
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