I have been thinking about Peace lately.  In the "hippie" era, this was a huge word and symbol of a generation.In church every Sunday, the pastor tells us that the Peace of the Lord should be with us.  We wish eachother peace as we shake hands, an action we call "sharing the peace"  I sign all my emails with God's Peace, Jenna.  but my question is...Is it possible to be completely and totally at peace?  or, because of our sinfulness is there always one area in our lives that lacks peace? 

 

Like the good old camp song, "I've got peace like a river..." I have always accepted that, but really, is a river always peaceful?  It can be peaceful to sit by a river, to be on a river, but there are lots of places where a river winds, dips, and where there are rapids....Rapids, though cool, aren't really so peaceful.

 

In my own life, i know there are many times where I am totally at peace with some aspects of my life, and not a peace in others.  For example, I was totally at peace with my call to Boone, but not totally at peace with all of my relationships.  and right now, not totally at peace with anything, which freaks me out, because I have always been at peace with at least one major aspect of my life.

 

Is it discontentment that causes us not to be peaceful, or a lack of not knowing what is coming next (at least for those of us who are planners)  Unfortuneately for me, I think it is both right now.

 

So back to my river metaphor.  Maybe we have "peace like a river"  which means we can be calm, but there are times when we hit rapids, dips or curves in our peace.  and maybe there are times when we look and feel calm on the surface, but there is a strong uncurrent happening in our souls, threatening to pull us under.

 

I will close this by wishing you Peace, that as people, we find the peace that passes all understanding, the peace only God can give, as we strive towards it together.