More than twigs

Lily Cathcart July 31, 2023 1 3

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Psalm 16 (NRSVA)

1 Protect me, O God, for in you I take refuge.
2 I say to the Lord, ‘You are my Lord;
    I have no good apart from you.’

3 As for the holy ones in the land, they are the noble,
    in whom is all my delight.

4 Those who choose another god multiply their sorrows;
    their drink-offerings of blood I will not pour out
    or take their names upon my lips.

5 The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup;
    you hold my lot.
6 The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
    I have a goodly heritage.

7 I bless the Lord who gives me counsel;
    in the night also my heart instructs me.
8 I keep the Lord always before me;
    because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.

9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my soul rejoices;
    my body also rests secure.
10 For you do not give me up to Sheol,
    or let your faithful one see the Pit.

11 You show me the path of life.
    In your presence there is fullness of joy;
    in your right hand are pleasures for evermore.

Have you ever seen a bird’s nest up close? I’ve only seen them on nature documentaries or when the remains of one falls unused from its perch. But those bits I have glimpsed have been a wider mix of materials than stories ever led me to believe. There are twigs of course, but also moss, feathers, grasses and even silk from a spider.

What about your nest? What does your refuge in God, as the Psalmist mentions, look like?

For me what I have is a nest weaved together with faith, doubt, experience, longing, knowledge and hope. Sometimes I feel guilty that my refuge isn’t built solely out of faith but that is like a bird perched in a tree wishing its nest was built solely out of twigs. The bird knows, and God knows, that nests need more than just twigs. Just like with us, God knows and welcomes our faith and our doubt and all the other ingredients which allow us to build a refuge.

PRAYER:

Dear God of twigs and moss

Help us to find ways, times and places to feel safe in you

Lead us to a place of accepting all aspects of our nest

Remind us that you know us and love us

Amen