Under His Wings
A professor of mine told a story that went something like this:
There was a farmer whose barn burned down. Once the fire was out, he walked around the smoldering embers angry and worried about his livelihood now that he'd lost so much. He stomped around kicking at the ground. He kicked at a partially burned board. It made a satisfying crack as it went flying. He walked a bit further. Crack. Another bit of debris flew off. Crack. Crack. He kicked again and again, until he heard a thump as his foot kicked at something different.
A professor of mine told a story that went something like this:
There was a farmer whose barn burned down. Once the fire was out, he walked around the smoldering embers angry and worried about his livelihood now that he'd lost so much. He stomped around kicking at the ground. He kicked at a partially burned board. It made a satisfying crack as it went flying. He walked a bit further. Crack. Another bit of debris flew off. Crack. Crack. He kicked again and again, until he heard a thump as his foot kicked at something different.
Under wings. In Ruth 2:12, Boaz describes Ruth as having sought shelter under God's wings. I read this and realize how I so often don't seek shelter under God. I'm busy building up my own shelters because I'm always so sure He won't have one ready for me.
There have been times I have been disappointed by my expectations of God's sheltering wings. Haven't we all? We expect Him to protect us from something, to keep some problem away. We’re disappointed. Instead of realizing that our expectations were the problem, we blame God, and we decide to do something about it next time. What? Well, we'll make our own shelter, shore up our own bets, and live our lives on our own.
This is what I've been done many a time. The fires have come, and I've wondered where God is because He hasn't been where I wanted Him to be. He wasn't doing what I thought He would do: keep me away from those fires in the first place.
That's actually the real problem though, isn't it? I think that being under God's sheltering wing means He will keep all the troubles away from me. He's never promised that. He promised to be with me in them though.
Like a child that's scared of the vacuum cleaner, I should be running into my Father's arms. It doesn't mean he will shut off the vacuum. It could even mean that he's the one pushing that scary thing around. It's not about getting away from the trouble as much as getting closer to the one I trust.
And, the truth is I'm tired of protecting myself. It's so inefficient anyway. Worn out and worn down.
The other day as I pondered this I looked up into a canopy of trees that stretched out over me in such a protective way. A picture of God's wings. It's as if He was saying, "Seek shelter under my wings. Seek my presence. It won't always be what you want. It will be with me though."
Jamie Lath
Jamie Lath is a middle child that has no baby picture without her older sister in it. Even with only two siblings, she grew up with family everywhere because all her aunts, uncles, grandparents, cousins, and even second-cousins lived in her hometown. With forty people at her birthday parties (all relatives) and her sister in every picture, she knows a little about community, and it's everlastingness. This has brought most of her ministry focus into meeting people where they're at, listening closely (especially to those who feel voiceless and like no one is listening), and helping them find God's voice in the mix. Jamie graduated with a BA in Communication Studies from the University of North Texas. Following a year of teaching English in China, she returned to the states to attend Dallas Theological Seminary. She received a Th.M. with a focus on Media Arts. Her background in the arts (ballet, writing, and acting) has given her an understanding of how creative expressions can give people a safe place to begin exploring how to use their voice and how it can touch hearts to hear God’s voice. She also blogs at I just called to say "Olive Juice."
