Accept invitation to enter a place of refuge

This is the time of year in Oregon that I can’t help but think about the Bible story of Noah and the Ark. As rain pours down day after day, having an ark doesn’t sound like such a bad idea.

In December, I was reading Noah’s story and was touched by God’s invitation to “come into the ark” along with his wife and children.

Noah had built the ark to God’s exact specifications. But what if he hadn’t actually ever gotten around to entering the ark? What would have been the point? But God didn’t leave him standing next to an oversized boat in his backyard. God didn’t just tell him how to build it but, at the right time, graciously invited him inside to a place of safety.

Refuge and sanctuary are two comforting images often mentioned in the Bible, similar to an ark.

Who wouldn’t like to be invited by divine love into a place of refuge when feeling flooded by pressures, obligations, fears, sickness or even too much of a good thing like holiday frenzy?

This past Christmas, I began to feel overwhelmed due to an overly full personal schedule. It included fostering a brand new infant, family gatherings, church duties, houseguests and accounting work for an elderly friend. Right before Christmas, cold and flu symptoms began to bother me.

As a Christian Scientist, my first line of defense is always prayer and so I got right on it. I was following the guidance of Jesus to enter the closet and shut the door when we pray. In the book, “Science and Health, with Key to the Scriptures,” Mary Baker Eddy writes: “The closet typifies the sanctuary of Spirit.” This prayer was like coming into the ark for me.

But the morning after Christmas, the day I was to stand up and conduct a church service as its First Reader, I literally had no speaking voice. Should I call a substitute?

First, I decided to practice at home, whispering the words. I looked for inspiration in that day’s Bible lesson and hoped a clear answer would come after that. It did, but in the form of a question.

“Can you love me (God) enough to trust me with the service today?” It repeated over and over in my mind until I could truly answer “yes.” It felt like I was being personally invited into the ark. Was I willing to leave the flood of what-ifs, the worries, the performance anxieties and just walk up the plank into the ark to be buoyed up to safety?

What I learned that day was that sometimes it takes courage to take those first steps toward refuge in love, especially when God’s invitation requires some trusting action from me. But I have to say that in this particular situation, I experienced a real sense of safety and refuge. My voice became completely audible and I felt lovingly protected throughout the service.

I could get used to living in this ark.

Nancy Atkins is a member of First Church of Christ, Scientist, Eugene. This column is coordinated by Lane Interfaith Alliance to offer inspiration, share personal spiritual experiences and bring a deeper understanding of individual faith perspectives with the intention of blessing our community and the world. For more information, visit www.laneinterfaithalliance.org or call 541-344-0430.