simply and purely: day seven.
February 26, 2010
today i went to a memorial service. memorial services are strange and beautiful things. this particular one honored the life of an incredible woman. kathryn waddell was a wife, a mother, a sister, a friend, and a wholly beautiful woman. she loved her God well, and loved her neighbor gracefully. i was honored to sit among those who knew her today and celebrate the life she lived well. many people spoke today, but the pastor shared a powerful story. in kathryn’s last moments, she and her pastor spoke about the 23rd psalm. in her last moments, she was surrounded by family and close friends – all holding hands – as her pastor read the 23rd psalm. and she slowly slipped away from her earthly life. he read that psalm today.
as i drove north this evening i heard parts of that psalm repeating in my mind. and i saw the beautiful landscape in front of me. snow covered mountains. clouds hovering. beautiful light hitting the water just right creating bright reflections. and i remembered God, working in this world. simply and purely as he does every day.
psalm 23
The LORD is my shepherd;
I shall not want.
He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters.
He restores my soul;
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.
Yea, 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.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
My cup runs over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
All the days of my life,
And I will dwell in the house of the LORD
Forever.
