Chaplain’s Corner: XXXII
“Our Refuge and Our Strength”
One of the charms of The Golden Gate Bridge is that it almost seems fragile. That’s astonishing-especially since it sits along the San Andreas Fault, one of the most active geological features of North America.
But engineers are convinced that the bridge is probably one of the safest places to be the next time San Francisco is rocked by a major earthquake. That’s because it’s two gigantic support towers, or piers, plunge deep into the underlying bedrock of the Golden Gate.
Every aspect of the bridge-it’s span, its cables, every nut and every bolt-is ultimately preoccupied with the underlying bedrock. Everything in an earthquake will be subject to jarring horizontal earth movement. But not the bridge.
After the events of last week, it feels like the ground beneath us has been shaken.
But God has not moved. Trusting him we have a place we can trust in the midst of chaos and fear.
Here are the words that inspired Martin Luther to write “A Mighty Fortress is Our God:”
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear; though the earth should change,
Though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea;
Though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble.
There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
The holy place of the Most High.
God is in the midst of the city; it shall not be moved.
God will help her as morning dawns.
The nations are in an uproar; the kingdoms totter;
God utters his voice, the earth melts.
The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge.
Come, behold the works of the Lord;
See what desolations God has brought to the earth.
God makes wars cease to the ends of the earth;
He breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the shields with fire.
Be still and know that I am God! I am exalted among the nations of the earth.
The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge.”
PSALM 46: “May the Lord bless you this day and in the days ahead with great support, love and hope. All other ground is sinking sand.”
Faithfully,
Ron Naylor, Chaplain