A/N: I've got a lot of Psalmfic ideas bouncing around in my head, most of which aren't related to each other in any manner whatsoever, but rather than make a whole bunch of oneshots, I thought I'd just lump them all together into one collection that I'll add to as more comes to me. Anyway, was contemplating Psalm 121 a while back, and the mentioning of hills made me think of Edmund, and the Witch telling him how her house was 'between those two hills.' This piece followed not too terribly long afterwards. Didn't quite go where I was thinking it was going to, but hey, that's part of writing, isn't it? Edmund, Aslan, Reepicheep, and anything else you might recognize is not mine, nor is Psalm 121.
I lift my eyes to the hills – where does my help come from?
There is complete silence as the four of us take this last leg of our journey. I do not blame the other three for their lack of words, however – I find that in my own case words are not capable of expressing what I feel. Looming ahead of us are either cliffs or mountains – it is nearly impossible to say which. And as I gaze upon them, for some reason unknown to me, I find my thoughts turning back to the first time I looked upon the hills of Narnia.
Though I still feel ashamed to admit it, even so many years later, I first looked upon those hills for selfish purposes. I can still remember clear as day what I felt when she directed my attention to two hills off in the distance, that all I desired lay at her house, between those two hills. I would do anything to ensure that I would find my heart's desire between those hills, even turn over my own family. Every time I glanced at the landscape, I would before too long find my gaze drifting in her direction, thinking of my own selfish desires and the help I was sure she would give me.
My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.
I am glad that this is no longer the case, though. As I look upon these towering cliffs above me, certain that no Narnians save the four of us have laid eyes on them, I am confident that I will have help no matter what may lie before us. I no longer look to the hills for her help in my own selfish designs – instead I look to them for His help in doing what He wants. The same Lion who formed this world, who sang it into existence, would be there for me to help me through any trouble, if only I will let Him. And having tasted what both He and the Witch had to offer, I can honestly say that I will never choose any help but His. I may have faltered in that once, but it is not a mistake that I will make again, nor is it a lesson I need to be taught repeatedly.
He will not let your foot slip – he who watches over you will not slumber;
Indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
Countless times he has helped me and my siblings through our difficult times – whether we were aware of it at the time or not. Even as we sleep, I am confident that the Lion is there, looking out for us. Like that night after we helped Caspian regain his rightful throne, remaining awake as He and the Moon gazed upon each other, I know that He will not rest in his watch over us. His watchful eyes will always be on the alert for when I need to cry out to Him, and I know that He will be ready to help me when I need Him.
The Lord watches over you – the Lord is your shade at your right hand;
The sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.
Whatever may come my way in the future, He will be at my side, whether I can see it or not. He will watch over me like he watched over Prince Cor all those years ago. I still remember clearly the first time I heard him tell his story, how Aslan was at the back of his story, keeping an eye out for him all along his difficult journey. And I knew that He was at the back of mine as well, carefully guiding me in ways that I may not understand, keeping watch over me, knowing what is best for me and never letting harm that I cannot bear come my way. He knows what He is doing – I must simply remember that and call out to him when trials come.
The Lord will keep you from all harm – he will watch over your life;
The Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forever more.
And as the three of us give Reepicheep our farewells, knowing that we must return to our own world soon, I am content in the fact that Aslan has watched over me in all my comings and goings. I do not come here without His wanting me here, after all, and I return when He sees that the time is right. Whether it is a day or a month or a year until I next see the golden Lion that I love, I know that He is watching, waiting, and loving. He will call me back to Him when He sees fit, and until that day comes, I can take comfort in the knowledge that my help will come from an unfailing source. And I shall remember that every time I look to the hills.