The outdoors created my favorite setting for a morning meander today.  My entire being sought to absorb the freshly scrubbed atmosphere from yesterday’s wind and rain. The trees dressed in multi-colored leaves that had deliciously littered the ground with their castoff leaves, flowers, and twigs. The river was rushing noisily down it’s course, splashing the rocky crags that keep it within it’s designated path. The sunlight danced off of every surface it could touch, making the colors of the blue sky, moss-covered stones and tree trunks, and dainty leaves even more vibrant. The birds rejoiced in the new day.  My 8-month old companion felt compelled to comment on the day’s freshness with brilliant baby babbles while our faithful canine was in no mood to rush through her daily scent checks.  On a morning like this it is easy to forget that we live in uncertain times.

My readership does not need to be reminded that this world is not as peaceful as a morning meander down a river walk.  There are threats of a barbarian army invading southern Europe, terrorist sleeper cells within our very own borders, uncertain weather changes, aging loved ones – both animal and human, overly processed food that seems almost impossible to avoid, super bacteria that appear to be untreatable, rising costs for daily living necessities, a government that is placing its own interests above the good of the country…need I continue? If I let my mind wander too far, my emotions will go into a tailspin and crash.  How can I possibly leave this world alive? How much more chaos can this little universe handle? That’s just it – there is going to be an end to everything as we know it. While our souls are eternal and will live forever somewhere, our physical bodies are going to die sometime; this present world is not going to continue.  We just don’t know how or when.  There is Someone who does and our peace lies in the relationship that we can have with Him.

My husband and I like to laugh about how our little boy rests in our arms when we carry him.  His body perches either on my hip or on my husband’s arm, his wondering eyes are consuming everything he sees, his arms are up, and his tiny hands are curled into fists.  He never grips onto us because we have never dropped him.  It hasn’t crossed his mind that he should hold on.  We carry him up and down three flights of stairs; I have even tripped once or twice.  My mind races ahead to consider all of the possible perils that we could encounter while I am holding him. His doesn’t.  He just trusts that whoever is holding him has got it covered and he can perch peacefully while taking in the amazing world around him.  The parallel is obvious.  Yes, this world is perilous. Yes, this physical journey does have an end and it might not be pleasant.  Yes, I am going to encounter moments that I would rather avoid.  But my Savior has it covered.  His mind has traversed the future and He will guide me through it.  He promises to not lose me.  My soul is safe in His hands and He will bring me to heaven one day.  I can walk with Him, rest in Him, take in the amazing world around me and not have to hold on. He didn’t drop the Cross; He won’t drop me.