The Darkest Valley
Psalm 75,76 • Psalm 23,27
Esther 2:5-8; 15-23 or Judith 5:1-21 • Acts 17:26-34 • John 12:44-50
Psalm 23 is one of the first Bible passages that I memorized and these words retain their significance for me. Perhaps because we often hear it or recite it at funerals, it is one of the most familiar of the psalms. Twenty-first century readers, most of whom have never seen a real shepherd tending sheep, still find appeal in the image of God depicted as “The Good Shepherd.” Even without that firsthand knowledge, we still get it. The Lord leads me to green pastures and beside still waters and along right paths. God knows what is best for me and takes care of me. He restores my soul.
At this stage of my life—from the other side of the happy green pasture/still waters hill—I am mindful of walking through the darkest valley, the valley of the shadow of death. But as the psalmist writes, I fear no evil. I am no longer afraid of death—at least not in the same way I was when I first committed these lines to memory. For you are with me… There is comfort beyond words in this reassurance.
These pandemic times may also seem like “the darkest valley” to some of us. Again, knowing that my Higher Power is with me offers comfort and some measure of peace. It is also a reminder that my time frame is not the same as God’s and that this “valley” is just another part of the journey. And I shall dwell in the house of the Lord my whole life long.
P.S. For folks like me who are not very “Bible literate,” writing a Morning Reflection every few weeks brings an opportunity to contemplate some lesser-known passages in the Bible. I was excited to see Esther and/or Judith as the Old Testament lessons for today’s lectionary, as they are both less familiar books. The story of Judith slaying Holofernes has been immortalized in so many works of art that I was hoping it might be in “my” reading for today. Alas, it was not… but I highly recommend checking out some of the powerful paintings portraying this moment in Judith’s story, especially that by Artemisia Gentileschi:
Written by Shannon Dillard Mitchell
…who appreciates this opportunity to share a bit of art history along with the reflection today.