Template Tools
Psalm 20: Help PDF Print E-mail
Anne Ogden / A Voice from the Wilderness
Written by Anne Ogden   
Thursday, 30 April 2009 00:00
Anne OgdenMay the Lord answer you in the day of trouble,*
the Name of the God of Jacob defend you;
Send you help from his holy place*
and strengthen you out of Zion.
Psalm 20


On a daily basis, help comes from somewhere. I need help getting through the impenetrable and weighty papers on my desk. I need help freeing myself from self absorption and doubt. I need inspiration and a sense of direction. I am on a journey that reminds me every day that I am not immortal, that I could go out of remission at any moment, that life is amazing and incredible, so miraculous that I can’t waste a minute of it. I need help finding my internal power, my creativity, my fearlessness, my fierceness, my vulnerability, compassion. I need help allowing mystery to unfold within me, startling me into recognizing the guidance and wisdom of the occurrences—chance occurrences—and images that visit me.

Where does this help come from? Surely it is a holy place. The air that surrounds me, from which I draw my breath? The buzzing of the brain cells, responding to an energy source I cannot fathom? A leaf whose image is reflected in the sun and suddenly I see, I see. Yesterday, ants were carrying larvae down the gray steps leading from the back porch, one by one. One ant would pick up a larva in its mouth, walk to the edge of the step and drop it to the step below. Another would pick it up and drop it to the next step. This morning, all the larvae were gone. Their help came from a holy place, a place of caretaking and strength to do the impossible.


I was afraid this week, afraid of something hidden. The ants remind me that help comes from a holy place.

April 2007
Comments (0)Add Comment
feedSubscribe to this comment's feed
Write comment

busy