I thought of church when I read this scripture today:  “Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me, for in you my soul takes refuge; in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge, until the destroying storms pass by.” (Psalm 57:1 NRSV)

I thought of the thousands of worship services I have seen and heard over the years, the countless messages and songs I have sung connecting me to the Creator.  I thought of the hundreds of churches where I felt the comfort of refuge while in them.  I thought how all this was freely given without any admission fee.

What price can be put on the Lord’s places of refuge?  What value can I place on the heart-filling comfort I have felt in them?  How can I say thanks for the thousands of smiling people who warmly greeted me on a Sunday morning?

Today this verse calls me to be thankful for all the places my soul has found refuge.