I lift my eyes to the hills.

Today I went for a bicycle ride out into the country.  It was a nice long time to spend talking to God.  We spent time with me going over my shortcomings (a.k.a. sins).  We spent some time with Him reminding me that I’m forgiven.  We spent a lot of time taking delight in God’s creation.  In particular, I enjoy God’s hills when I’m riding.  There were quite a few hills on this ride, and it was hot.  So I started doing what I always do in a difficult hill-climb – I recite Psalm 121.

     I lift up my eyes to the hills-- where does my help come from

     My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.

     He will not let your foot slip-- he who watches over you will not slumber;

     indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.

     The LORD watches over you-- the LORD is your shade at your right hand;

     the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.

     The LORD will keep you from all harm-- he will watch over your life;

     the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.

As I literally lift my eyes up to the top of the hill that I am bicycling, these words give me strength.  They remind me that God is with me.  That whenever I am struggling (and even when I’m not) God is my helper.  I was also reminded that God is my shade.  It was hot out and the sun just seemed to beat down relentlessly.  Just like shade provides sweet, cool relief, God refreshes and renews when things just seem to be beating me down.

But God had one other lesson for me, too.  When I got to the top of the hill, I turned around to go back home.  Suddenly I was facing a headwind (and I hate headwinds as much as I love hills!).  But it occurred to me that while going up the hill, I had a tailwind – a helper when I didn’t even know it.  In the Bible, the word for Spirit is pneuma (which is also the word for wind).  As we travel in the way of Christ, we encounter difficult hills.  But the Holy Spirit has our back!  With his help, we can make it up the mountain.  Likewise, when we turn back, the Holy Spirit can get in our face!  In my experience, going with the Spirit is always better than going against him.

So, during those hills that never end or when the sun is beating down on you, just remember Psalm 121.

God bless,

Fr. John