Safe and Sound

The LORD your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with his love, He will rejoice over you with singing.” Zephaniah 3:17 (NIV)

I now know how to end an autumn heat wave in Florida. Plan a spur of the moment motorcycle weekend, pack at the last minute knowing you only have a teeny tiny amount of space and make a hasty decision not to take your leather jacket. With lots of stressful things happening these days even though we are at a time in our life when we should just be coasting along with no worries, and the holidays right around the corner, we made a decision to take an overnight trip to Cedar Key. When the times get tough, the tough go out of town, I always say. Neither of us had been to Cedar Key which is about one hundred and fifty miles from here just the right distance for my three hour butt. We reserved a room at the Cedar Key Bed and Breakfast, threw a few clothes in the saddlebags and off we went. Remember the travel agent lurking in me and know that while I didn’t take the time to think about proper outer gear, I had researched on line the best restaurants and shops to visit once we arrived. When we left on Saturday, we knew that there was a cold front between us and Cedar Key, but I figured a sweat shirt and a rain jacket would be adequate protection. Though the clouds looked threatening enough for me to pray a lot, God answered those pleas, and we skirted the biggest part of the weather with just a few specks of water hitting our helmets. I was surprised upon riding into Cedar Key to see how small it was. I had heard so much about it that I was thinking of an area more like Mt. Dora in size. But, the main section of the town was only about six blocks wide. We managed to see all the shops before we checked into the Bed and Breakfast which left my carefully planned schedule with a large hole between shopping and dinner. That’s how I found myself lying on a swing under a huge spreading oak for the greater part of the afternoon while husband stretched out in the beautiful room upon the white bedspread and watched a car race with his eyes closed! Although we traveled up for some couple time, I didn’t mind the chance to just be still and silent for a while. I can’t remember the last Saturday afternoon I had nothing to do. I saw the blue sky and clouds framed by the twisting branches of the tree. With the lullaby of the garden fountain and the wind rocking me to sleep, I dozed and remembered how much God loves and cares for me. It reminded me of the verse above. The cold temperatures rushed through during the night. After a delicious breakfast, we rode home. My body was cold, but in my mind, I was warm and safe, swinging back and forth underneath the spreading branches of that ancient oak.