By Katie Myers
One day, Sr. Denise brought to the bus station some Spanish Bibles that had been given to her. We offered them up to the families who were waiting for their buses. They were quickly claimed. I saw one boy about 10 who was studiously poring over his copy. Having a 12-year-old myself, this stood out to me. Mostly the boys while away their waiting time playing with the toy cars we hand out.
I asked him if he was looking for his favorite part. He said yes, he was. I asked him what it was. He pointed to the page that was open to Psalm 91. I asked him if it had been his favorite for a long time. He said that it had been. Then I asked him to read it to me – honestly not remembering exactly which psalm it was. This is the English translation of part of what he read to me:
“You who live in the shelter of the Most High, who abide in the shadow of the Almighty, will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress; my God, in whom I trust.” For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence; he will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler. You will not fear the terror of the night, or the arrow that flies by day, or the pestilence that stalks in darkness, or the destruction that wastes at noonday.”—Psalm 91:1-6
The favorite psalm, the heartfelt prayer of a little boy seeking safety and refuge in our country speaks of the assurance of God’s protection under outstretched wings for those seeking refuge from pestilence, violence, and terror. Will he find that refuge among us?
