But for me it is good to be near God;
          I have made the Lord GOD my refuge,
          to tell of all your works. (Psalm 73:28)

              The Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge is a wonderful place to go bird watching, especially during the spring migration. As the yellow-rumped warblers and red-eyed vireos and so many others make their way north, they stop to feed and rest along the shore of Lake Erie before the long trip over to Canada. Ottawa and nearby Magee Marsh make an ideal place for them to stop and take refuge.

              Psalm 73 declares that God is a place a refuge. To be near to God is to be near our source of strength, nourishment, and rest. In God’s presence we can recharge our spirits so that we have what it takes to face life’s daily challenges and press on along life’s journey.

              Let me encourage us all to carve out some time in our busy days to take refuge in God. Whether that means settling in with a few verses from the Bible or sitting quietly and listening to the birds sing, let God’s Spirit flow through you and feel that Spirit renew you.

              Those little gnatcatchers and their friends that pass through each spring have already come so far, and they still have a long way to go. But as someone who enjoys watching them, I am glad they pause on their journey and take refuge nearby. It’s a good lesson for us all.