Fr Robert Hendrickson

“Surely your goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, *
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.”

That’s the last line from Psalm 23. It is one of those psalms that is well known even among folks who are not terribly church-going. It has made its way into a deeper place of cultural awareness because it speaks to broad needs and hopes for God and speaks to needs across our lives and beyond.

One of my favorite small things from the Psalm to dwell in on the word through. The psalm reads, “Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil; for you are with me…” The assumption of the psalmist is that he will not be left alone — God will be with him. And even more than that God will walk with him through the valley.

There will be an end. The darkness will lift. The danger will pass. The other side is waiting and God is taking them there.

The assurance of God is that goodness and mercy shall follow all the days of our lives. And they do — though we lose sight again and again. I’m reading a book now called “A Time to Die.” It is a collection of stories about monks facing their last days and hours and shares the wisdom they bring to that moment after lives of prayer and steady contemplation. It’s a beautiful book that I recommend highly.

In one memorable passage, a monk says of his life and death, “the meaning of prayer remains until the final moment. It is surrender into the hands of God.” His entire life had been one of surrender to God — of service and trust. His view of the end was that it was like the rest of his life.

I think most of our lives would have a different character — and perhaps a richer and deeper one — if we saw the entirety of them as a surrender to God. The more and more we can trust that God walks with us through the valley then perhaps the more awe and gratitude we will find when light comes.

Then again, perhaps that life of surrender to God will mean that answered prayers and journeys ended safely will simply be the thing we naturally expect the most. This week, may we know more deeply that goodness and mercy will follow us all our days.

Yours in Christ,

Fr Robert