Most mornings I read morning prayer from a website posting the Divine Hours, a version of fixed hour prayer. I'm not a morning person, so this enables me to pray when I have no words of my own. I don't know what version of scripture they use, but almost daily one line jumps out at me. A couple of weeks ago, what struck me was Psalm 18:1 "O Lord, my stronghold, my crag, my haven."
I have looked up many versions (praise God for online Bibles!) and can't find one that uses the word haven. I'm not even sure which word is translated haven. Using different versions and Strong's Concordance, I tried to paint a picture for myself: my place of safety, the high crag where I run for dear life, hiding behind the boulders, my rock in whom I take refuge, my high tower, place of defense, inaccessible place.
This year promises to be challenging. Living in two different cities is not conducive to family life! Three weeks out of the month I will be juggling home, school, children and all the responsibilities those require with Vince popping in most weekends. God uses all things, however inconsequential, to remind of himself and his purposes. I just don't think it's an accident that Vince currently lives in an apartment complex called "The Haven."
What is a haven? A place of hiding, safety, retreat, protection. One week a month I will retreat to our 'haven.' I will have limited responsibilities (schooling Joel and Anna, cleaning a two bedroom apartment and fixing meals). Vince will come home to us each evening.
In the midst of a hectic year, more hectic than most, God has provided a haven. A place for rest, a place to hide from sometimes overwhelming responsibilities, an escape, a place of safety. When I miss my husband, when I question why we are spending so much time apart, when I'm weary from driving over 200 miles, I pray that as my headlights light up the words, "The Haven," signaling the end of the journey I will give thanks to God for providing us a haven when I most need it.
