SHADOW OF DEATH



REFLECTION ON PSALM 23

Born in the valley of the shadow of death
Live in the valley of the shadow of death
Walk in the valley of the shadow of death

Always looming
Always present
Possibility and fact
Consistent shadow

I walk in this valley
Placed in this valley
To learn, to grow, to become
To know, to love, to serve
The Creator of this valley.


The Creator of this valley and
All that is beyond this valley 
Calls me into relationship

My Creator, God of the Universe,
Bigger than the valley 
Bigger than all the shadows
Cares enough to enter into my life.

Relationship with the Trinity,
God the Father,
Jesus Christ the Son,
God the Holy Spirit 
Intense light shimmering in the shadows.

Even though I walk in the valley of the shadow of death,
I fear no evil; for God is with me.

Guiding me through the valley
Anointing me with oil
My cup overflows

God dwells within me as I walk through this valley 
Moving towards dwelling within God for eternity. 

Poem by Sara Fontana
Paintings by Kenneth Petro,
Sara's brother-in-law,
who walked in this valley
from 1956 to 2020


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