Even though

I walk through the valley

   of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil,

for You are with me;

Your rod and Your staff,

   they comfort me.

             Psalm 23. 4

(Let not the familiarity

of this profound passage

deflate its strength.

Even though,

even there,

even right here in this,

realizing His Presence

changes everything about us

     and what we face.)

O LORD,

May we recite, repeat,

and engrave these words

    in our hearts and lives

that we may know that

circumstances have

      no power over You

nor over Your Presence

                 with us.

Help us to walk with You

in the every days

that we would know how

to walk with You

       in the darkness.

You are with us.