A Crowded Sidewalk

Direct my footsteps according to your word...
Psalm 119:133a

A new semester is about to start and our new town of residence has suddenly become alive. The sleepy sidewalks of the summer have turned into hubs of congestion and activity…people walking everywhere! Bright-eyed freshmen walk about downtown with a mixture of excitement and fear reflected in their eyes. Older kids walk with an air of knowledge that borders in arrogance. Parents walk with melancholic eyes, unsure of what the new semester will bring, and nervous about the future of their kids. The rest of us just walk in suspense, hoping we don’t get trampled on and avoiding over-packed eateries.

I take a step back and see my own two sons walking among them too, and I can’t help but wondering where their walking will take them in a few short years. They are still too young for me to worry about them leaving for college, but as we all know, in a blink, the years will disappear and I’ll be one of those parents walking unsure.

I look at my own walk too and I see my steps taking me to the uncharted roads of the unknown.

Scripture gives us “hikers” a breath of fresh air, though. Psalm 121 is a Psalm of Ascents, the quintessential Psalm of those who are “walking.” This is one of the Psalms that the people of Israel would sing as they walked to Jerusalem for their yearly pilgrimages to the Temple for the different celebrations.

Today, it reminds me not to walk downcast, but to lift up my eyes to Him to see the hope that comes from the knowledge of His presence among us “hikers” of this world. It reminds me that He will take care of His own, from the college freshman, to the anxious parents and the new generations still to come. He watches over His people always, for He does not sleep nor slumber.

I get back to reality and as I still walk in the midst of a crowded sidewalk I praise the Lord for His protection for I know He watches over our coming and going, both now and forever more!

I lift up my eyes to the mountains—

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. Psalm 121

Linking with: Be Simply Better