Do you ever wake up in the middle of the night with thoughts a-swirl? Last night was one of those for me. Our confused dog followed me downstairs and stared at me curiously as I woke my computer up to empty myself into a blank document. Three pages later, I closed my eyes and realized that I was calm enough to rest. I attribute that sense of peacefulness in part to the creative writing process, but there’s something else too. The author of Psalm 42: 6-7 reaches out across time and space to name that something and comforts me this morning. No matter how heavy my soul may feel, nothing can separate me from the love of God.
Why are you so full of heaviness, O my soul?
and why are you disquieted within me?
Put your trust in God;
for I will yet give thanks to him,
who is the help of my countenance, and my God.
Countenance: support or composure
“keep someone in countenance” – help someone to remain calm, confident
-Elizabeth Cavert Morrison
