Archives for September 15, 2009

Devotion

For as long as my childhood memories reach retrospectively, I can recall my father robustly playing Handel’s, “Messiah” (from a record) each Advent and Christmas season. I remember the following names from Isaiah echoing through the walls of our suburban rambler: Wonderful, Counselor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, and the Prince of Peace. Each of these names contains a sense of grandeur, eternal endurance and power. God’s power is also described by the Psalmist’s use of the role or purpose of God as “upholder.” Many of the patients I meet in the inpatient hospital environment are not in a cozy, suburban home experiencing health, joy and reverence. Rather, they may be struggling with consciousness, significant loss and/or the possible end of their mortal life. To call upon God as the Upholder manifests a feeling of safety in that. Though a storm may rage, we trust that we are up-held.