Editorial: Seeking Shelter

Psalm 91 is a Bible passage with deep and personal meaning for me. It reads: “Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust’“ (Ps. 91:1–2, NIV). But what does it mean to live in the shelter of God’s care?

To me, this means actively pursuing a closer relationship with God and trusting God to be the ultimate protector, a fortress against dangers. It also means bringing our concerns to God and seeking guidance for the challenges and uncertainties of
life. By placing not only our spiritual but our physical and mental well-being in God’s hands, we can live in harmony with God, experiencing God’s presence and knowing God will be with us faithfully in good times and in bad.

But in addition to seeing God as a refuge on a personal level, these verses also shape my understanding of our work at Adventist HealthCare. In fact, this faith foundation supports all the things we do to provide a world-class patient experience to every person, every time – such as listening attentively, providing clear explanations and addressing any questions. By being reliable sources of open and honest communication, we are a conduit for God’s care – a soothing refuge against anxiety and uncertainty. By building rapport and trust by actively engaging with patients and being attentive to their needs with consistent, high-quality care, we create effective environments for healing – safe shelters – shaped by compassion, grace, mercy and love.

As we seek the shelter of God’s care, may we also be effective in extending God’s protective love and care to all those we meet. May the safe and affirming grace of God be powerfully present in everything that we do as we seek to fulfill our Mission to extend God’s care through the ministry of physical, mental and spiritual healing. Guided by the model of

God’s compassion to us, may we be affirming and sheltering to our team members, business partners, patients and indeed all with whom we interact.