I can hardly imagine a more powerful combination of experience, illustration and story than what we had today.
We had a difficult journey up a Wadi canyon
in the Negev desert. The hike was long, and hot, and challenging. Indeed, there were times when "hiking" meant using feet AND hands.
If you've ever tried to picture the biblical wilderness or had an image of the desert through which the 
Israelites wandered, it's a safe bet for me to conclude you likely have it wrong. I know I did. Don't think sand. Think rocks. Lots of rugged, shifting rocks. And "green pastures"? Again, think rocks, with tiny tufts of dry, rugged grass growing at the base. It looks from a distance like the sheep and goats are eating rocks! Oh, and we were so blessed to see a Bedoin shepherd tending her flock. What an amazing, moving image of God as our Shepherd. She led with her voice and the flock obediently followed. It was beautiful. And yes, you are reading correctly the feminine gender. Almost all Bedoin shepherds are girls. Ready to take me up on that bet?
There was SO much to learn today and so many powerful lessons that picking one is painful. If forced I would have to choose the biblical image of God being the shade at our right hand. Ray's summary for that Faith Lesson was "God is just enough". I can not do it justice here and now but consider this: Is it not true that the times in your life when God has been closest have been the most difficult ones? God has not promised a floodgate of relief, but rather to be "just enough" and to never be further than our outstretched right hand.
My opportunity to be God's voice dealt with this very subject. Quoting the text in its actual context was once again an overwhelming powerful experience.
God has promised to be just enough shade for one more day. People all around you are going through their own desert experiences. For whom are you being "shade"?
