Talk About Shivers

This semester I am working as an intern, as part of my psychology degree, at an assisted living facility called Friendsview.  There, I get the opportunity to work with, and have my heart expanded for, the elderly; something God has been hard at work on in my life.

Part of my responsibilities at Friendsview is to assist in leading Friendship Circle.  It's a time every Tuesday where we gather residents who suffer from dementia to sing hymns, converse about a topic (Instruments, childhood stories, past careers, and the like), sing a couple more hymns and close in prayer.  Nothing major, just a half hour segment of interaction between residents and caregivers.

This week however, it was incredible; that's an understatement.

The topic was favorite Bible verse or Bible story, and it turned out to be one of the most spiritual experiences I have had.  The gal I was co-leading with read the first verse in Psalm 23 to initiate the conversation.

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

What happened next was completely unexpected.  Each of the residents—laden with various forms of dementia, and living the final chapter of their lives—began to recite the passage from memory.  One continued...

He makes me lie down in green pastures.

Another picked it up:

He leads me beside still waters.  He restores my soul.

Two more followed in unison—

He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name's sake.

And it continued to resound through the group...

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil,

for you are with me;

your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;

you annoint my head with oil,

my cup overflows.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me  all the days of my life,

and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD...

All of them ended the passage together:

...forever.

Amen

That moment sent shivers down my spine and my eyes welled up with tears; again as I recall it.  The same for my co-leader, and my supervisor.  Past that, I cannot adequately explain how filled that time was with God's presence.  Just as quietly as it began, it came to pass.