by Sue Stone
O Valley of the Shadow of Death
where we face the ultimate reality
of how frail our life is,
how near eternity is
at any minute,
coming in pain or shock or fear or sleep,
suddenly there one moment
and not the next,
we think so often we stand in the sun
when we are walking down your narrow path.
O Valley of the Shadow of Death,
in your dark paths,
I shall not fear —
neither ambush,
nor pain,
nor uncertainty,
for the light hidden in you is so bright
there are no words.
He is with me,
My shepherd,
my Lord,
my God
even as I lay trembling
waiting to know if my tomorrow will come.
In his hand is the peace
that makes no sense,
but is sense indeed,
and when the pain and confusion come,
and I do not know what is next,
he comforts me.
Valley of the Shadow of Death,
Gateway into tomorrow,
Doorway,
I will not fear you
for you open to me my final hope.
May I dwell in the house of my Lord forever,
Amen.
