I recently sent out an email updating folks on my shoulder issue and travels, similar to yesterday’s Life Is Tough blog. I had a stunning response from my hero Rich Kagel, whom I’ve written about before. Please refresh your memory on Rich’s conversion and his mission to provide clean water to Guinea Bissau.

Writing with my attack from two neighborhood dogs in mind as well as his own recent trip to West Africa, Rich wrote:

Several recent nights, I walked to my grass covered bungalow in West Africa, late at night through a dark but busy neighborhood followed by navigating through jungle trails with my tiny flashlight. Along the way, my path included so many dogs running out ready to intimidate, or worse, most of the pigs and goats were already in bed but there were other obstacles popping up unexpectedly. In the jungle, there was a different set of surprises to engage my worries. 

In the far past, whistling was my go to for these kind of experiences. But the 23rd psalm is now my new one – I lack nothing. Bob, you lack nothing too!

“You prepare a table before me

in the presence of my enemies.”

Surrounded by my enemies, my fears, those freaking dogs, the black mambas, the weird huge spiders, the shame I experience way too much, the ice pick like pain in my right knee, the medicine that’s not working anymore, my enemies, all around me, and You invited me to dinner with You, God, you prepared a table, because with You, I lack nothing and You and I will have a lovely dinner, together, safe in your hands! 

“Bob, you lack nothing, too! God prepares a table before you in the presence of your enemies.” And Rich’s enemies seem a bit more formidable than mine, including the deadly black mamba snake and huge spiders!

And speaking of travels, I’m not in the wilds of Africa, I’m on Grand Cayman Island…stay tuned.

The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. (Psalm 23.1, 5, NIV)