“It will be a shelter from daytime heat and a hiding place from storms and rain.”  Isaiah 4:6 NLT

The first day of spring arrives today amidst the variable weather so indicative of March in eastern United States. Over the past few weeks we have had temperatures from 20 to near 80 degrees Fahrenheit. We have had threat of snow and record breaking temperatures. It is premature to pack up the ski jackets and turn off the fireplace logs and too early to wear shorts and sandals everyday. With plants blooming and birds singing, it is still a wise idea to keep an eye to the skies when outdoors.

Yesterday Famous and I headed out for a long neighborhood walk, and I had heard there was a small chance for rain. Still, we headed out for a three-mile hike, one we would have jogged just a few years ago. But now those distances do not work for either one of us, and I expected to be away for about an hour. The sun was shining with a light breeze, so shorts and sneakers gave the trip a light and unencumbered feeling. We were halfway done when I noticed there was not as much sunshine as when we had started. Then with one mile to go, and Famous starting to tire a bit, I heard the first drops of rain hitting the leaves in the nearby woods.

Despite the sudden claps of thunder accompanying the rain, this was not the time to urge Famous to quicken his pace as he was doing the best he could and even lingering over interesting smells a little longer in protest. Knowing we were not likely to return home without getting soaked in air which had grown cold, I looked for the nearest shelter. We were approaching a large brick church in front of which I could see a large portico. We made it just before a brief but heavy shower drenched the streets and sidewalks.

Isaiah speaks literally of Mount Zion as a shelter for its inhabitants but also as a symbol for those who remain faithful to the Lord. We, too, can depend on God’s protection to those who worship him and seek his guidance.

Help me to depend on You, my Rock and my shelter, when storms threaten me today.

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