Shadow of the Cross

This week I had the blessing of working with fellow members of our conference evangelism committee at the Academy of Christian Witness. This event was held at Camp Rockfish and I was excited about going, not just to be in fellowship with many pastors and friends, but also because I was on a search.

I was on a search for the secret place. I wanted to find that place mentioned in Psalm 91: "He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty" (KJV).

That's what I needed. That's what I desired and that's what I craved. I needed to find that secret place where it would be just God and me, where I could hear him and where we could talk. I had some questions and I have been in one of those pits of time when I just wasn't able to "get my call through." I know God was listening and I know he never left me, it was all me. My mind was in one of those whirl wind of thoughts and I just wanted my God.

I actually asked some of the camp's staff people where was a "God's secret place"? And they all mention the same place, an outdoor worship area on the creek and they gave me the direction. I took an opportunity to walk out to the area and I found it. A beautiful place with benches set up in worship style with a small pulpit and three large crosses, all overlooking the creek.

I sat on one of the benches and stared at the center cross and I called out to God. Nothing. I talked to God. Nothing. I walked around the area. Nothing. I took pictures of the crosses with my phone. Nothing. "Oh well" I thought. "This must not be the secret place I was looking for."

I prepared to head back to the conference center but decided to get a close up photo of the crosses but as a tried to get in a position to get a good picture the Sun was blinding me. I moved around a little to get out of the brightness for the picture but there wasn't a good spot.

I finally knelt down and as I did I fell into the shadow of the cross and it blocked the brightness of the Sun and there on that ground on one knee, I found the secret place. There in the Shadow I finally cried and finally I felt the Hand of God on my shoulder again and I knew I was no longer empty but filled with the Spirit of My Lord. I truly found rest in the Shadow of the Almighty.

The picture above was taken as I was kneeling in the shadow of the cross.