Introduction

Some years ago I heard the account of a British anthropologist who was studying an American Indian tribe in the late 1800s. The tribe was located in the north–eastern United States, not too far from the Canadian border. In his absorbing report he wrote about a unique ceremony this particular tribe held to initiate a boy of about 13 years old. The purpose of the ceremony was to create abrave.

Up to this point in the boy’s life, he had been taught many skills for subsistence living: fishing, hunting and fire–making. To prove his bravery however, he had to undergo something he had not been prepared for. All the braves would take the boy deep into the surrounding forest, moving on until they came to unfamiliar territory. The boy would be escorted far from home, beyond any recognizable landmark.

When they reached the designated site, it would be nearly sunset. All the men would then leave without even the hint of a good–bye or any instructions. To prove his courage, the boy had to remain in the forest alone all night and somehow find his way back to his village.

Wisely, the first thing he’d do would be to build a fire. In that part of the United States there are grizzly bears and mountain lions, along with other dangers. Sleep would escape him as he stood vigilantly by the fire. Every time he heard a twig snap or the rustle of a bush he knew to fear the sudden onrush of one of these predators. Yet, to demonstrate his manhood, he had to wait out the night despite any inward terror or tremor.

As the first rays of dawn pierced the forest canopy, the young Indian boy would begin to get a better view of his surroundings. The first thing he would notice was that he had actually been left on a track that would lead him home. But the second and more important discovery was that somebody else was there with him. Because of the darkness, that person had been hidden from his sight. Hisfather had been silently and stealthily watching over him all night with bow and arrow at the ready, protecting him against every predator.

The boy had felt vulnerable, exposed and fearful, but his fear was needless. His father had been watching over him all night.

This story is reminiscent of Psalm 121:5–8 which states:

‘The LORDwatches over you — the LORD is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.

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 forevermore.’

Sometimeswe feel vulnerable, exposed and fearful