08 August 2011

He hems me in

Since I first saw the word for this week's carnival I can't seem to stop whistling and singing Cole Porter's Don't Fence Me In:
Give me land, lots of land, under starry skies above
Don't fence me in
Let me ride thru the wide-open country that I love
Don't fence me in
Let me be by myself in the evening breeze
Listen to the murmur of the cottonwood trees
Send me off forever, but I ask you please
Don't fence me in
catchy song, and yet...

For most of my life
I fought against fences
running from love
running from anything that might hold me
running from the One I didn't even know was waiting
and I was the one building walls
fences that I thought might keep me safe

I was blind to the only One Who could offer true freedom
breathless, heart cramped from the running
till in His perfect time
I ran right into His arms
and in the fences He designs
out of His wisdom and great love
I am safe and finally free

You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me.  Psalm 139:5 NIV

and then He granted this lost one
born and raised in the limited space of  urban confines
the vast Canadian prairies
and we live with no fences
wild and free
in the shadow of His wings



Join the carnival at Peter Pollock's where the word is fences

8 comments:

Helen said...

Very good post. It had me thinking.. So many are afraid that HIs love is confining, but nothing could be further than the truth. When we receive HIm, we are free to be who He created us to be!

Anonymous said...

Beautiful. And now I'll be singing that song all day too. :) Thanks Karin.

Lisa notes... said...

I love that verse in Psalm 139 (along with many others there). I am thankful for the boundaries he sets up for my protection. I am free within them.

Laura@OutnumberedMom said...

Freedom in fences...isn't it amazing? He's the God of pure paradox. He hems us in wonderfully, our boundaries set in pleasant places.

Deidra said...

I love this - great job! I love how the right kind of fences really do bring freedom and security.

a joyful noise said...

Your sweet words caused me to think of the Good Shepherd who leads His sheep into Green pasture. But at night for their protection he again leads them into the fenced fold so he can watch over them and keep them safe.

Anonymous said...

it makes me think of how america thinks that it is the land of the brave and the free. and yet... only in God.

Anonymous said...

Amen! We have an abundance of freedom within the guidelines of scripture. If the Son sets you free, you are free indeed!