A morning for calm coffee with quiet waters

Green pastures, still waters in a valley in the shadow of death, Valles Grande, New Mexico 

The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
     He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
     he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
    for his name’s sake.
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.

 You prepare a table before me
    in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
    my cup overflows.
 Surely your goodness and love will follow me
    all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
    forever.

 -- דָּוִד (David) תְּהִלִּים (Psalm 23)

Green pastures, still waters

Green pastures, still waters...Eastern Oklahoma County--Clark photo

 This evening was one of those times when you need solitude and quiet and peace, but security too. Time to look around and inside self, time to be thankful for blessings, time to enjoy  beauty, time to consider mortality,  time to reflect on life's journeys, past and present. The more faults you have, the more mistakes you've made, the more of these you need, knowing that you won't pass this way again, and you need help to breathe deeply of what matters, and to live life as it should be lived.
When you can't tun your mind off and slow down, when you need stillness inside, I remembered  a fellow traveler  who long ago wrote from his heart these same thoughts...

"The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.  He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousnessfor his name's sake. 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.  You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever."