PB and I have been doing some coming and going.
We took a drive up north to see the fall colors.
The leaves weren’t in full autumn splendor,
but glorious nonetheless.

“The Lord will watch over your coming and going
both now and forevermore.”
Ps. 121:8

This verse is from a dearly loved psalm in which the phrase “watch over” appears five times in eight verses. I often send this verse to people who are anticipating a surgical procedure. I tweak it just a bit: “The Lord will watch over your going into anesthesia and coming out of anesthesia both now and forevermore.”

I’ve read that psalm hundreds of times, but today I noticed something new. The Lord is most watchful when we’re moving. Coming and going. Going and coming.

Our Teddy is a boy on the move. When he visits, I am on high alert making sure he isn’t riding his bike out on the street or wandering off into the woods by himself. I need to be on the lookout for swinging baseball bats and flying Nerf gun bullets. My ears are attentive to the sound of the rattling cookie jar lid and the crash of thousands of Lego pieces being dumped out.

But when I’m reading “The Bunny Book” to Teddy, he sits still and cuddles up to me. I relax and enjoy the momentary closeness. It’s magical.

God is all-seeing, all-knowing, and all-powerful so it’s not taxing for Him to keep watch over my coming and going. Yet, I wonder if He most enjoys those moments when I cease my striving and simply sit still, savoring His nearness.

“What is the chief end of man?
Man’s chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever.”
(Westminster Catechism)