And peace to you

Last Saturday night, a thundering boom shook the house. When I looked out the window, I could see lightning flashing across the sky. I watched all of it from a cushy living room chair. Despite the chaos outside, I was filled with an inner peace.

Earlier in the day, my wife and I had taken a walk. We had talked mostly about small stuff. Which nights we both needed to work late? What doctor’s appointments we had the upcoming week? It was all the trivial stuff of life. But I found that I was filled with a deep peace.

Peaceful, easy feeling

I got to thinking about other times when I’ve been found peace. The times surprised me. Many moments started out as some of the busiest and most chaotic times in my life. They were full of excitement and energy and somehow turned the page into quiet, contemplative moments. They include:

–The moment after my wife and I had said our vows. Oh, we didn’t need to worry about “looking pretty.” We could let our hair down so-to-speak and focus on what really mattered. We were together and were in it for the long haul.

–Three hours after my wife had given birth to each of our children and things had quieted down a bit and I got to hold her and them in our room alone together. Nothing else like it.

–Three hours after my kid’s graduations (one from college, one from boot camp, one from high school). Each time I sat in a chair, drank a beer, and sat amazed at the people they had become.

–The drive home from a job that I had worked for decades. I made the tough decision to leave. On the last day, I felt a mixture of emotions. When I got into my car and drove off the grounds, though, I felt a freedom. I felt peace too that’s hard to describe. I had made the right decision.

–Moments when I slow down and remember that I’m one person with limited control and that I’m going to make mistakes. The best I can do is try my best and leave everything else to a higher being. In moments like this I like to remind myself of my favorite verse. “I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.” Psalm 34:4

Yes, peace is a great thing.

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