For Mark

Life is unpredictable. I received news two days ago that one of my former colleagues had been diagnosed with sarcoma and was given only two weeks to live. After the diagnosis, he opted for palliative care. I was gutted because he is a very nice soft-spoken gentle man who is a joy to be around with. I was passed his hospital ward details and had already decided to visit him during lunch the day after I received the news. Unfortunately, his family informed my former boss that he wished for privacy and time with his family because he was very tired. He is now heavily sedated and wearing an oxygen mask. I did not visit him in hospital but told my former boss to keep me updated. I had wanted to go there and speak Psalm 91 to him. Mark, I'm praying for you.

My Refuge and My Fortress

91 He who dwells in athe shelter of the Most High

will abide in bthe shadow of the Almighty.

2 I will say1 to the Lord, “My crefuge and my dfortress,

my God, in whom I etrust.”

3 For he will deliver you from fthe snare of the fowler

and from the deadly pestilence.

4 He will gcover you with his pinions,

and under his hwings you will ifind refuge;

his jfaithfulness is ka shield and buckler.

5 lYou will not fear mthe terror of the night,

nor the arrow that flies by day,

6 nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness,

nor the destruction that wastes at noonday.

7 A thousand may fall at your side,

ten thousand at your right hand,

but it will not come near you.

8 You will only look with your eyes

and nsee the recompense of the wicked.

9 Because you have made the Lord your odwelling place—

the Most High, who is my crefuge2—

10 pno evil shall be allowed to befall you,

qno plague come near your tent.

11 rFor he will command his sangels concerning you

to tguard you in all your ways.

12 On their hands they will bear you up,

lest you ustrike your foot against a stone.

13 You will tread on vthe lion and the wadder;

the young lion and xthe serpent you will ytrample underfoot.

14 “Because he zholds fast to me in love, I will deliver him;

I will protect him, because he aknows my name.

15 When he bcalls to me, I will answer him;

I will be with him in trouble;

I will rescue him and chonor him.

16 With dlong life I will satisfy him

and eshow him my salvation.”