When they call to me, I will answer them; I will be with them in trouble; I will rescue them and honor them. —Psalm 91:15 (NRSVUE)
In the 1950s I attended a boarding school for boys. It was run in a military style with strict discipline and punishments that were often issued in an abusive manner. Bullying at the school was rampant and persistent. Needless to say, I suffered at the school and learned how to avoid any confrontation, disappearing into anonymity when required.
One place in my school that nobody went during the day was the chapel. There I found my retreat where solace and support awaited me. I found that I was not alone. I felt God’s reassuring presence, and I enjoyed that calming influence and support. This was the beginning of my lifelong journey with God.
I still give thanks to God for coming into my life. I cannot give thanks for the experience of being bullied, but I am grateful that during that time I found God. What might my life have become without that sacred introduction?
Today’s prayer: Loving God, cleanse the hearts and minds of those who abuse others. Be with those facing persecution and grant us lives of harmony and peace. Amen.
Thought for the day: In God, I can find peace, reassurance, and protection.
Johannes von Buch (United Kingdom)
