What Hides Within

18/1/2023

A Reflection on the Psalm for Sunday, January 22nd, 2023:
The Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

Psalm 27

R. The Lord is my light and my salvation.

The Lord is my light and my salvation;
whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life;
of whom shall I be afraid?

R. The Lord is my light and my salvation.

One thing I asked of the Lord, that I will seek after:
to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,
to behold the beauty of the Lord,
and to inquire in his temple.

R. The Lord is my light and my salvation.

I believe that I shall see the goodness of the Lord
in the land of the living.
Wait for the Lord; be strong,
and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!

R. The Lord is my light and my salvation.

There are cracks and crevices in my self-defence walls where scary things live. Impatience and judgment guard my heart’s defects — a little like the dark places in the concrete in my century-old basement, where spiders crouch and their webs protect their homes.

I hesitate to shine light into these places where creepy crawlies hide, just as I have hesitated to let light illuminate the fault lines in my soul that have opened up as various hurts have chiselled their way into the rocky hardness of the protection that has grown up around my heart.

Unlike me, God is not afraid of what is in my basement nor what is in my soul. Just as spiders scurry away when light shines into their nooks, so too do the feelings and pain associated with difficult memories I’ve hidden away. When I have sat in these memories, warmly held in the safe and saving light of God’s eternal love and mercy, people of good will have helped me to see the truth. My broken heart has been consoled by Love itself, and some of the cracks have been filled with gold.

As the psalmist advises, I also was advised not to try to delve into painful memories alone. Wait for the Lord — and let your heart take courage. He promises that He will accompany you as He has me — and I give profound thanks to God for those who feel called to accompany others, friends and professionals alike.

I don’t know for sure, but I’d bet there are no spiders in the basement in the house of the Lord. When we let the light of the Lord’s love shine, we will see the goodness of the Lord filling up the nooks and crannies of the land of the living. This I believe with all my heart. If this is indeed true, of whom shall we be afraid?

Lindsay Elford

6 Comments

Alana

18/1/2023 08:30:20 am

“When I have sat in these memories, warmly held in the safe and saving light of God’s eternal love and mercy, people of good will have helped me to see the truth. My broken heart has been consoled by Love itself, and some of the cracks have been filled with gold.”

What a beautiful reflection and image Lindsay - like Kintsugi - where broken pottery is repaired with gold recreating something beautiful - while never His original plan for us - God can and does use us in our brokenness and restores and redeems us in beautiful ways - if we only let Him. Help me Lord, to allow You to transform me and my heart - even in all my brokenness - into the restored beauty that You see and that is only possible by Your divine healing love, mercy, and craftsmanship. Amen. 😊🙏🏻💕xo

Lindsay

20/1/2023 05:53:34 am

If only we let Him - so true, Alana. Brings a new perspective on what it means to trust in God - that He is kind and gentle with our hearts in just the way we need. Amen and thank you for your beautiful prayers!

Betty

18/1/2023 10:26:42 am

Thank You Lindsay. Your reflection today spoke to me of past memories and pain. I still find it difficult to recognize God's presence as I travel down that road. Today, you reminded me that God is there, ready as always to bring solace and healing. Courage.

20/1/2023 05:51:22 am

Oh yes, Betty. It can be so difficult. So grateful that you were reminded of His presence. Praying for you on your journey - for courage, perseverance and comfort - may God bless your tender heart.

Lisa

20/1/2023 06:26:51 am

Todays Psalm (and your reflection, Lindsay) are speaking directly to my heart, and where I am in my faith journey. I have always been a little impatient to get to the “next phase” so to speak, but I feel so called to sit and rest where I am right now. “Wait for the Lord — and let your heart take courage.” He wants to shine His light on those hidden places, but slowly, gently, and in His perfect time. I feel so encouraged by His Word and by the beautiful friends and professionals accompanying me. This morning as I sip my coffee (out of a beautiful mug given to me on my birthday) I am reminded:
“Keep looking where the Light pours in”.

23/1/2023 04:47:36 pm

Dear Lisa, I'm so grateful for this comment and for your heart. It's so hard not to be impatient but it's true that God's timing is perfect and His hand is so gentle...