Shelter

These are the things I prize And hold of dearest worth: Light of the sapphire skies, Peace of the silent hills, Shelter of the forests, comfort of the grass, Music of birds, murmur of little rills, Shadows of cloud that swiftly pass, And, after showers, The smell of flowers And of the good brown earth, – And best of all, along the way, friendship and mirth.

Henry Van Dyke

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Hello Friend,

It’s been awhile hasn’t it?

Actually, life got busy with the grandkids, then we had a holiday, and then I lost the entire month of April to the dreaded virus. That part was not fun!

But all is well now, and I’m so glad you dropped in. Let’s have tea on the veranda. Do you mind the rocking chair? Or would you prefer the cushioned wicker chair? It’s been unseasonably warm, but the veranda is neither too hot nor too cold, and refreshing breezes usually waft in.

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No matter where you are in the world, you are at home when tea is served.

Earlene Grey

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I love sitting here, especially in the mornings, when I can watch the sun rising in the sky. Since the sun rises earlier and earlier these days, I’m not up in time to see its beginning glow on the horizon, but I do love to watch it flicker through the shimmering poplars and make dancing patterns of light and shadow on the grass as it slowly moves higher and higher in the sky.

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I was so happy to get home after our holiday. In fact, I got hit with the virus in the last days of the holiday and everything in me begged to be home. So, when I finally walked through these doors I felt home envelop me. It was my sheltering, safe place to recover.

In our worst moments and situations we seek shelter, don’t we? A place where we can come in out of the storms we’re facing, if only for a moment of restorative peace and contemplation. A place to remember who we are in this chaotic world.

During my illness I got daily texts from Mom and a good friend, and other people checked in by text or message too. They apologized for bothering me, but I found shelter and comfort in their checkup.

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Perhaps love is like a resting place, a shelter from the storm. It exists to give you comfort, it is there to keep you warm, and in those times of trouble when you are most alone, the memory of love will bring you home.

John Denver

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Sometimes, like those not far from my home who have had to escape the devastating wildfires raging in our province, our place of shelter needs to be a physical place. Other times our shelter is a person, someone who understands us to our core. And other times shelter can be found in a memory, a hobby, a piece of music – anything that brings healing to our weary souls.

What I love about this little music video is that you can hear the wind and the storm outside when the young man opens the door to walk in, and for just a few moments there is respite, before heading back out there again. (You may catch his reluctance to leave in the way he touches the piano one last time before walking to the door.)

The truth is we can’t live in a constant state of shelter; we have to live in this world, which is fraught with misunderstandings, storms, and chaos. But isn’t it comforting to know that shelter can eventually be found if you look for it?

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Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.

Matthew 11:28

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It’s been wonderful to visit with you again, thank you so much for stopping in. Stay safe out there, and see you next time.

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Feature Image by Jill Wellington from Pixabay