higher ground

The warnings came

in the night

my phone buzzing incessantly

Heavy rainfall

Flash flood imminent

Get to higher ground



the disturbing reality

you are not safe where you are

where you most feel safe

you are not


where it seems these alerts
are just an annoyance
a disturbance


where all seems okay

where i feel that i can and should rest


i need to move from


from the structure

i have taken refuge in for so long


it cannot hold

it is not strong enough

it will not hold

even the ground itself is not going to remain


it will crumble

and be swept away

get to higher ground


get to higher ground
get to higher ground

where is higher ground?

how do I know what is higher?

what is the way there?

how do I move there?

"When my heart is overwhelmed within me,
lead me to the rock that is higher than I."
Psalm 61:2 KJV

You alone
are that rock
that is higher

You alone are that
firm
unmovable
unchanging
unconquerable
rock

When the storms of life
hit my burn scars

and all gives way at once

into a rushing
moving
torrent
of destuction

that nothing human can withstand

move me
to higher ground

to refuge in you alone


When the raw truth
of human inadequacy
and need is revealed
in a moment

When all I know and depend on
is swept away
in a moment

lead me O Lord
to higher ground in you

You are the very highest
You are the most firm
You are our only rock
that can withstand
and endure

it is so uncomfortable
to stand in my need

in the reality of just how great my need is

to have all illusionary
structures and defences
swept away

to be left standing here
so powerless
so vulnerable

to the ravages of human existence
and to the reality

of my deep need of you

Help me to not run from this place
of deep and abiding reality

I am not higher ground
I cannot make higher ground
others can love and care and support
in such beautiful
and loving and amazing ways
but they cannot be that higher ground
either

for myself
or anyone I love
and so desperately
want to be safe

"When my heart is overwhelmed within me,
lead me to the rock that is higher than I."
Psalm 61:2  KJV

He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High
    will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of Yahweh, “He is my refuge and my fortress;
    my God, in whom I trust.”...
3 
4 He will cover you with his feathers.
    Under his wings you will take refuge.
    His faithfulness is your shield and rampart.
Psalm 91:1-2, 4

This does not mean I will necessarily be shielded from the ravages and sufferings of human existence
Jesus himself did not refuse the suffering of being human and all that this entails
a Man of Sorrows and acquainted with grief

I believe it does mean
that God himself
Who He Is

That will not change
That He will be with me in whatever it is I will experience

that even when it comes time for me to die
and let go of everything

a time when truly
no one else can help me at all

that you will be there

that you will take me to Yourself

that you will carry me in your bosom

You will bring me home

to Yourself

"When my heart is overwhelmed within me, 
Lead me to the rock, that is higher than I."
Psalm 61;2