Shelter

By Amy Fernandes

A song by Jars of Clay was playing in my mind the entire time I was up at Linwood House on The Journey.

In the shelter of each other we will live, we will never walk alone.

There we were, about twenty women from every background imaginable, thrown into this beautiful place together. I was reminded again just how amazing a gift it is that God has put us on this life journey with others. These women who began as strangers inspired me, blessed me, challenged me, and when we parted, it was as friends.

The thing that constantly amazes me about participating in the Women’s Circle, whether at Linwood House or at the Great Room, is that regardless of background, we can all relate to and encourage one another. We are all empowered by sharing our stories and walking with each other. The Journey creates the time and space for this to happen. Whether it’s through the Circle, or conversation over dinner, or rest and rejuvenation, or while wandering through God’s amazing nature, I saw transformation in the faces and hearts of the women on this trip – including my own. We all did some hard work by looking at our lives and asking God the great gardener to show us what needed pruning, but also what should blossom. We asked for strength to invite others into our nest, recognizing that we need each other. As we sang songs and turned our faces towards Jesus, I could feel God’s peace and hope settling over us.

I left knowing that we indeed do not walk alone, nor were we ever intended to.

A verse of Shelter by Jars of Clay:

If our hearts are turned to stone
There is hope we know the rocks will cry out
And the tears aren't ours alone
Let them fall into the hands that hold us
Come away from where you're hiding
Set aside the lies that you've been living
May this place of rest in the fold of your journey
Bind you to hope
We will never walk alone

In the shelter of each other
We will live
We will live (we will never walk alone)