Peace Like a River

I was driving the kids to school yesterday morning and we were listening to a kid's CD with some "oldies" on it and "Peace Like a River" came on. For the first time I was struck by the idea of God's peace in my life being a BIG river. I pictured a rushing torrent that pours through my life, cleaning out the debris that gathers around the edges and in the corners of my soul. I have been thinking about that ever since. It's not that there are not things to worry about, or be concerned with. It's that God's peace can be powerful enough to overwhelm those things and wash them away. It's almost unfathomable to me.


Why? Because I admit that often, my "river of peace" looks more like this:



Even when there is not a huge crisis brewing, or storm clouds looming over my head, I can feel vaguely unsettled around the edges. Sometimes I feel a nagging sense of unease. I could be a professional worrier without too much trouble. The verse in Matthew 6 that says "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own" can be a big challenge for me. Jesus made it clear that His peace is not the kind of peace we have come to expect. "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." John 14:27 I am praying that somehow I will learn to let God's peace truly be a river in my life. Not a bog, or a brackish swamp, but a glorious, thundering current that I cannot even hope to resist.

Resolved to be grateful

After being officially on the Contributors List for all these months, here is my first post at last. While naturally a writer, I'm not yet much of a blogger, I've realized. But now with a website of my own containing some now-and-again meanderings, here we go. Thanks, blog team, for not giving up on me!

I was reflecting this morning about why gratitude so easily slips out of the grasp of the human soul. A grateful heart is joy-giving. With such a reward wrapped up with it, why does it escape us so often? What snatches our gratitude away?

I’m realizing that sitting behind my computer can easily become a gratitude-snatcher. My attempt to stay on top of emails, the website that needs tweaking, endless work that leaves me perched on my rather inadequate desk chair—these slowly work to dull my soul.

Or perhaps I’ve become all too accustomed to an adrenaline buzz in my fast-moving world. And to the satisfaction that a 'job well done' generates for this over-achiever.

So today as I’ve granted myself the freedom to slow down and listen to the sounds of spring that are murmuring around me, what I hear instead are echoes of dissatisfaction emerging from my soul.

This morning I reflected on the widow giving her two tiny copper coins to the temple offering. Of her faithfulness to give though it could make so little difference. And her faith that God would provide the next meal that her coins could have purchased. That made me think back to last week’s Time Magazine article on resolving world poverty, and I sealed my decision to join in with my little bit, my tiny copper coins in the big picture of things.

Gosh, I have so much. How can it be that gratitude doesn’t overflow from my soul? Privileged to have been born in the prosperous West. With no concern for my next meal – only for how this soul will stay satisfied.

So I pulled myself out of my desk chair, turned the computer off, and headed out on my bike. Enjoying the warmth and the sunshine of this early spring day, I began to speak out the very things which I wanted to surface from my heart. Small expressions of thanksgiving for the blessings I experience. The simple things. And the big things that have grown familiar. For a God who loves me and died for me and who is forever faithful.

And before I knew it, gratitude had filled in the limpness in my heart. Lethargy gave way to an overflowing of praise to my God who is so much more than worthy of receiving it. Once again I was in step with who I want to be and with my God who makes life more than worthwhile. Once again I was living true to the verse I’ve claimed for years:

Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you,
who walk in the light of your presence, O Lord.
They rejoice in your name all day long;
they exult in your righteousness.
For you are their glory and strength. Psalm 89:15-17a

Thanks, Lord, for being greater than these emotions of mine! Elizabeth

Refreshment

Sometimes I forget how great it can be just to spend time with another woman. I spent this afternoon with my friend Becca, and it did me a world of good. We had lunch in Madrid, then wandered around a few stores and for a grand finale, stopped at Ben & Jerry's.

I don't know what exactly makes spending time with a kindred spirit such a balm for my weary soul. Sure, we shared struggles and complaints about our lives. We picked out all the same clothes and had the same reaction (too expensive!) There was no difficulty at all deciding what two flavors of ice cream we were going to get (Dublin Mudslide and Mint Chocolate Chip.) It was relaxing and encouraging and just plain fun.

I guess there is something life-giving in just having time to sit down without the demands of home, family, ministry, life and being able to just be me. To talk to someone who understands me, or at very least can relate to me. It's the chance to be really real and vulnerable with someone who is not going to judge, or condemn.

Women like this are truly a gift of God. So ladies, if you have someone in your life like this, call them up and make a date! It will do you good. And if you don't, come see me in Madrid!