A psalm and a story

Psalm 46
1 God is our refuge and strength,
    a very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,
    though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
3 though its waters roar and foam,
    though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah
4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
    the holy habitation of the Most High.
5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved;
    God will help her when morning dawns.
6 The nations rage, the kingdoms totter;
    he utters his voice, the earth melts.
7 The Lord of hosts is with us;
    the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah
8 Come, behold the works of the Lord,
    how he has brought desolations on the earth.
9 He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
    he breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
    he burns the chariots with fire.
10 “Be still, and know that I am God.
    I will be exalted among the nations,
    I will be exalted in the earth!”
11 The Lord of hosts is with us;
    the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selahrefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,
    though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
3 though its waters roar and foam,
    though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah
4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
    the holy habitation of the Most High.
5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved;
    God will help her when morning dawns.
6 The nations rage, the kingdoms totter;
    he utters his voice, the earth melts.
7 The Lord of hosts is with us;
    the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah
8 Come, behold the works of the Lord,
    how he has brought desolations on the earth.
9 He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
    he breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
    he burns the chariots with fire.
10 “Be still, and know that I am God.
    I will be exalted among the nations,
    I will be exalted in the earth!”
11 The Lord of hosts is with us;
    the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah

The psalms contain some of the most beautiful poetry ever written.  And this gorgeous psalm is no exception.  because it is the Word of God as well as poetry, it empowers us as we meditate on it: helps us to trust such a God, long for such a river, and still our hearts.

It's been a long week, and as I reflect on it at home this morning (dealing with a virus of some kind, so laying low and not infecting anyone at church) I love thinking on this psalm and its words of comfort and direction.

We began last week in Arizona, helping Ben and Elsa settle into a new apartment and helping Tim and Nikki move into a rental as they wait for their new house to be built.  We arrived home late Tuesday evening, and I had my infusion on Wednesday, taught in the afternoon on Thursday, and headed to Santa Fe to run some needed errands on Friday.  I only had a few scheduled stops left as I loaded a couple of bags of groceries into the back of my car in the Trader Joe's parking lot.

I had the back of our Honda Pilot open, had set my two bags of groceries on the ground behind it, and had set my purse on the back of the open car right next to me.  As I rearranged items in my cooler to make room for my new purchases, I caught movement peripherally to my right.  My purse was moving.

I grabbed for my purse, and realized a small car had pulled up close behind me, and a woman was leaning out the passenger-side window and taking my purse.  I pulled on my end of the purse, began to yell something like, "No!  That's my purse!", and spun around to face the car.  My hand was being pulled inside the car as the woman pulled the purse inside the car, and the car began to pull away.

For a split second, as I watched my strawberries and other groceries lay in bright contrast to the black of the parking lot pavement, I considered holding on to the window; but I knew I would only get hurt, and they would still get away with my purse. My hand slammed into the back of the open window, and I continued to yell and point as the car sped away across the parking lot, "She has my purse!  She took my purse!"

Several sweet strangers, and one acquaintance from Curves in Los Alamos, rallied to write down the make, model and license plate number of the car, call 911, and pick up my strew produce. After talking to the police and getting some shaking under control, I headed for home, sans purse, wallet, all credit cards, check book, tablet, two pair of sunglasses, and a new large container of Crabtree and Evelyn Lavendar Hand Therapy, among other things.

The woman who took my bag looked haggard and worn, and to be so brazen, she must live in a desperate place.  Will you pray for her, Gentle Reader, and the other woman who drove the car?  Pray that they have food and safety, pray that they meet Jesus and find a way out of their desperation.  And pray that they don't use all my information to steal my identity, or sell my purse to someone who will.

And will you pray for me?  Ask the Lord to help me live in the reality of who God is, and be still.