peace

Advent: this week our focus is on peace. It’s quiet in the house. For empty nesters we have a full house especially today. Two just left for work, one will get up soon and head for school and three are sleeping on the couch: friends passing through. The corn stove is sending out heat and that comforting clicking sound which reminds me it’s still working if the warmth I don’t immediately feel. The outside world I don’t sense. It’s below zero outside. The wind is blowing. I am warm and peaceful because of the protection I have. I love the Puritan prayer. This phrase especially for today: “fill me with peace, that no disquieting worldly gales may ruffle the calm surface of my soul. “.

The plea is for peace that is abiding and gentle yet strong and unyielding. If you watch the winds blow during a storm nothing is safe. Tree limbs, trees, any garbage or trash lying around fly all over. And yet watch a bird sitting on a tree branch. They just sit there while the winds thrash about. God created them with feet that hold on, feathers that deflect the wind and they look rather unruffled! Lord let me show that calm when all in my life blows across the field. Fill me with that peace. That peace that holds on and let’s people see you instead of the storm!