I don’t know about you, but I find myself pretty tired lately. Now today my tiredness could certainly be related to my sleep pattern last night. My four year old was kind enough to accidently set my bedroom alarm to midnight. Now truth be told, I am not sure why we still have that particular clock in our bedroom. My daughters serve a fine alarm clock every morning and when I do wish to wake up earlier than them I use my watch. Nonetheless, there the clock sits and last night there it screeched a horrible sound at midnight awaking my wife and I from the splendor of sleep.
Unfortunately, being woken in this way jolted my mind into action. And when my mind starts moving it is difficult to slow it down. In this case, it took me a little over three hours before my thoughts settled down enough for me to catch a bit of shut eye. So again, today, my feeling tired likely has something to do with that.
But the reality is that I felt tired before I went to bed. Not sleepy tired, but worn out and weary.
I am not sure why I thought the world would be different this week than it is. I guess I had hoped with the election in our rearview mirror, the partisan conversation would diminish. Obviously that doesn’t seem to be the case. In fact, there are days when it seems to me that noise is louder than ever and I find myself longing for a sense of peace.
Peace of mind. Peace of stature. Peace that is simply beyond capability.
Peace that feels like a cool drink of water on a hot day. Peace that overwhelms like when my daughters race through the house and tackle my legs to welcome me home after a long day. Peace like the tranquility sensed when the sun sets upon a still mountain lake.
I am thinking about the peace Jesus talks about with his disciples in John’s gospel,
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.” (John 14:27)
I am reflecting up on Henri Nouwen’s sense of peace in his meditation entitled: Claim Your Peace.
I really wish you an ever deeper peace. I know that that peace quite often lives underneath the turmoils and anxieties of our heart and doesn’t always mean inner harmony or emotional tranquility. That peace that God gives us quite often is beyond our thoughts and feelings, and we have to really trust that peace is there for us to claim even in the midst of our moments of despair.
I trust that the peace is there beneath the surface. I believe the peace will come. It is just simply that I long for the peace to come more quickly than it appears it will.
Let us pray...
Holy One, it is so difficult to let go of our anxiety, to let go of the world around us when we can’t see evidence of all that you are doing – when we can’t understand or see your purpose or plan. In this moment, help us to pause and remind ourselves of our dependency on you. Remind us that you promised to be with us through whatever may come and your promises are trustworthy.
In the midst of the confusion of the day, bring us calmness, like that of the wind blowing through the field. As we feel the tension of society, let our weariness dissipate, like that of the soothing sound of an everflowing stream. When we feel powerless, remind us that like the towering tree, real and lasting change comes slowly.
Lord we want peace – a peace that can only come from outside ourselves. Help us to stand before all that is before us and to discern and seek your presence – to discern and seek your peace – to discern and seek your call – and then Lord, give us the strength, encouragement and challenge to move us away from our selves and into a stance of surrender of what you might do through us – and in that way give us your peace.
Ken Carrothers
ELCA Pastor
Grace Lutheran, Horseshoe Bend, ID
Redeemer Lutheran, Boise, ID
This Post Has 3 Comments
Thank you, Ken. I needed your wise & thoughtful words today. (PS Life with a
4-yr old is such an adventure!)
Thank for you this gift of peace in the midst… .
I really needed to hear this! Thank you, Pastor Ken!