Psalm 91
Author: Herman Harris
Reflection: v. 16, ‘with long life I shall satisfy them and show them my salvation’
I had to grow up a lot out here on these streets. I’m 59 years old—I’ve got to make my time valuable. I have to value life now because I’m getting older. I process things differently now. Especially when I see people downtown struggling, it hurts me, because I know I was once there, too. I have so much compassion for the homeless and people who are down and out, because I was there. I was standing in pain, just trying to get a break—trying to get in a doorway. Sometimes we have opportunities, and we mess up. We blow them. At times, we have to keep it moving forward and take responsibility. A lot of times when I’ve messed up, I realized I needed to take responsibility for some of my actions. I have had to look back and say, ‘I messed that up. I could have handled that situation better.’ I’ve grown a lot through this realization, through that process, and even through messing up. I look back at things now, and I stay encouraged. It’s a good feeling to be able to do the things you know you need to do to take care of yourself. You’re supposed to be able to have the things you need to take care of yourself and to feel good about yourself. God wants the best for you. God wants you to live the best life you can. I’m 59 years old, and I want to live the remainder of my life as the best life that I can. That’s why I give it my best every day I wake up. I walk in that bathroom, look in the mirror, and say, ‘This is what I’ve got to do. This is what I’ve got to do to stay sober, to stay blessed, and to stay in the place where I am.’ I’m enjoying the place where I’m staying now, and I’m just trying to keep it moving one day at a time. I trust that things are going to happen as I’m working toward my next apartment. It’s a tedious and slow process, but you can’t give up. You’ve got to just keep on moving forward.
Prayer Walk with us, God, as we keep it moving forward one day at a time.