In The Shade

Psalm 91:1 -- "He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty."

photo: University of Florida - Urban Landscaping Solutions

Even with the A/C blasting as high as it could possibly go, sweat dotted my forehead and rand down the side of my husband's face. Rather than sit down and buckle up, we melted into the seats of our car. We both sighed and grabbed the cold water just purchased from the machine at BJ's, guzzling it down as if our lives depended on it. We had but one more stop to make before we could head home and stay inside.

Usually we scour the abundance of grocery stores in Julington Creek for the best deals on what we need, on this day however, we shopped according to shady parking lots. It was just too hot. The official high for Saturday, August 23rd was 101, but according to the NOAA our heat index was 117 -- and I could feel every single bit of it.

There is a lot to be said for the humble parking lot shade tree. A whole lot.

On hot days there is no blessing like finding a spot underneath one and on rainy days the trees offer shelter from fat rain drops and a buffer from the wind. Within a parking lot tree's branches rest song birds and gulls who hope you drop tasty morsels as you get into your car. There are tree frogs who sing and geckos that relish the heat emanating from the black-top. Some of the myrtles are jeweled in fragrant blossoms that offer a rest for hummingbirds and butterflies in an otherwise wide ocean of concrete. And there is peace in the gentle rustle of leaves while car tires screech and car alarms beep.

The wonderful parking lot trees offer shade and shadow.

In Psalm 91:1 our Father, our Most High is compared to a shelter and a shadow. We can cool in the shade of Him and find comfort against the weather in His shadow. When our lives heat up we can rest in Him and when the storms roll in we can wait them out in safety in the wide-spread arms of our Lord.

How very lovely are the sprawling branches of our Almighty, our Most High - our Savior and Lord.