1 I lift up my eyes to the hills—
from where will my help come?
2 My help comes from the Lord,
who made heaven and earth.

3 He will not let your foot be moved;
he who keeps you will not slumber.
4 He who keeps Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.

5 The Lord is your keeper;
the Lord is your shade at your right hand.
6 The sun shall not strike you by day,
nor the moon by night.

7 The Lord will keep you from all evil;
he will keep your life.
8 The Lord will keep
your going out and your coming in
from this time on and forevermore.

Awww….hills.  We do hills well in Oregon, don’t we?  I love where I live in the world.  There are mountains all around me.  They are majestic and wonderful.  They are full of beauty of grandeur. Full of stories and super comforting.

My grandpa used to take us to “the hill.” My grandparents own a chunk of land on a “hill” outside of Lebanon and us kids couldn’t wait to explore with him.  He would load us into the car with whatever project needed to be done on the hill.  We would have ideas in our mind about what would happen on the hill…what adventure would take place?  Would we slay a dragon? Would we “fish” in the creek?  Would we be finding the ghost in the haunted farmhouse?  Would we find treasure somewhere along the way? Would we see some mystical creature?

On the hill there were no worries.  We climbed, we ran, we played, we looked for animals and mistletoe. We came up with new games and new ideas and we got to spend time with Grandpa.

I recently read this scripture at a funeral of an awesome pastor. This was his most favorite scripture and I can see why.  I definitely look to the hills for comfort and God.  I can relate to looking to the hills of Oregon to see God, remember God, and find God.  The hills carry good memories and our beauty.

Look to the hills today and remember.  Look to the hills and live into God’s presence.

Peace,

Courtney