Today's devotion is shared by LCM Alum, Pastor Steve Troisi
Psalm 121 – “I lift my eye to the hills”
I am a 2004 graduate of Clemson and have a deep love for all things Tigers. Until recently this meant season tickets and late nights even with my Sunday morning responsibilities. In July this year, we moved our family from Summerville, SC to Austin, TX. This has been both an exciting adventure and a challenging new start.
When I think back about my first semester at Clemson, I find many mirrored experiences. There was a new job—college student. There was a new home—Thornhill….in all its glory. There were new routines—going the Zaxby’s and driving to Seneca to the closest 24-hour Walmart. And, probably the hardest part was being away from old friends and family and feeling a bit like I no longer knew exactly where I fit. It is a bit of an unnerving experience being thrust into a whole new world. It isn’t easy particularly while still trying to solidify who you are while at the same time attempting to discern who you will be.
Just like my first weeks in Tigertown, I have found myself looking for touchstones and little reminders of home. One of those places has been my car, since that has stayed unchanged for several years. Another one was provided by ESPN on Saturday evening. From my perch, approximately 18 inches from the TV, I got watch every second of the Tiger’s entrance and hear the roar of the crowd.
Psalm 121 beginning with the beautiful words, “I lift my eyes to the hills.” For me, as I reflect back on that feeling of home Saturday evening, in some ways, this was exactly what I was doing. In the midst of the change around me and all the new experiences on the horizon, what I needed most was that grounding moment, eyes pointed toward those hills we all love.
When we read the rest psalm what we find are words of promise and trust that when we are in the middle of challenges, when we are embarking on a new journey, it is God who will show up and carve out a pathway forward. And, when it feels a little overwhelming, it is God who calls our eyes to the hills; it is God who provides those grounding moments, those touchstones of home that remind us not only who we are but that it is okay to be ourselves in this place too.
As you think back about the last two weeks, how has God provided those grounding moments or touchstones of home for you? How has God be active in your life, lifting your eyes to the hills and making it possible to see a route forward in this new and sometimes nerve-racking semester?
Pastor Steve Troisi
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