This week we are talking about peace. It occurred to me that the kind of peace I want to talk about is not naturally occurring peace, like when you have the chance to take a picture of a Maui sunset. I mean, who wouldn’t think this is peaceful? 
This kind of peace isn’t the kind that comes from amazing beach vacations either. This is a picture from 2003, when we vacationed with college friends who had NO kids. That’s right, the adult to child ratio was seven to one. I will never see those kind of odds again. No wonder it was peaceful and we look so happy.
The kind of peace I’m talking about is when the view isn’t so great. I don’t have a picture, because there would be no chance of breaking out a camera in the moments I’m talking about.
Moments when chaos reigns, in your heart, head or circumstances.
Moments when strife is your neighbor and conflict is closer than your best friend.
Moments when the kids are screaming, the dog is barking, the phone is ringing, the dinner is burning, the trash is stinking, your passion is missing and your life is lacking.
Those moments. Do you have peace in those?
Because I think the kind of peace we will talk about this week is that mysterious and enticing phrase, “the peace that passes understanding.” Peace in strife, ambiguity, ambivalence, despair. That kind of peace.
This evening I drove west, toward the sunset. I wondered how far I would need to drive before I could be silent enough to hear my thoughts and courageous enough to express them out loud. Even as began to list my litany of troubles to my Heavenly Father, I already knew what would happen. Even though I longed desperately for answers, or a voice, or at least a darn rainbow, I knew what would happen.
Only one thing.
Even as I poured out my complaints, God was already pouring in something else. Peace. Just enough for the moment, just enough for the evening. The kind of peace that comes even when the view doesn’t change. I don’t always like it, because I want answers.
But it sustains me for another day.
Do you know what I mean? Do you feel it, the “peace that passes understanding?”
Final Note: thanks to all for the great comments last week on mothering! Our random winner was Glenda, who is one bad grandmomma, blogging over at GG’s Notes for the Journey. Any grandmomma who blogs is pretty durn cool in my book!
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Great description of the moments I have where I don’t necessarily feel peace. But then again do I need to “feel” it or recognize that Peace is always there, sustaining me in those moments? For “He Himself is our peace…” Thanks for the reminder!
Ruth, I think that the recognition that peace is always there feels almost like a discipline. Refusing to believe that we HAVE to “feel” it for it to be there. Although, usually when I make myself recognize it, the feeling of peace also comes.
Thanks, Nicole, for choosing my name for the drawing and for the link up to my blog. I’ve entered so many giveaways and this is the first time I have won. . . and on a topic I care so deeply about – mothering.
Right now I am in Chicago visiting my adult daughters ~ bliss.
Fondly,
Glenda
Sorry, I can’t find your e.mail that you sent me. I was the winner of your giveaway and upon my return to Seattle, your package arrived, but alas, the package was empty. It must have fallen out in the mail. Bummer, eh? Just wanted you to know, so you didn’t wonder why I didn’t say thanks.
Fondly,
Glenda
oh man Glenda! I’ll see what I can do….