Can You Find Peace in Nature?

           

           

            Have you ever just wanted to get away from it all in order to find peace? As in: go out into nature to find it? Escape into the mountains or travel to the seashore? Listen to the wind tease the pine tree needles, or hear the waves curl and hammer the shore in a heart-soothing rhythm? Hear the lake water lap against its confining perimeter? Or just hear...nothing?

           

            That’s what my husband and I planned to do last week, and we did pack our bags and head to the mountains of Southern California to enjoy the fall colors, lapping water, and fluttering pine needles. But throughout the week, (and after a lot of meditating on it before the trip), I came to realize that “nature” isn’t really as peaceful as I once thought it was, and that it really is more about being at peace in my soul, wherever I am, than finding peace in some specific location. I also realized that what many of us define as peace is better translated “quiet,” and that experiencing both of them simultaneously isn’t always possible.

           

            Our little get-away condo overlooked Big Bear Lake, once a resplendent manmade reservoir now seventeen feet below normal, suffering the effects of a prolonged drought. Gorgeous, window-loaded homes that boasted “lake front” property signs now overlook rustling prairie grass and cockeyed boat docks perched precariously on dry ground. Unused dock bridges lie on their sides. Nature certainly couldn’t be at sublime peace in this location, with habitats being displaced.

           

           

            One morning the lake glistened like glass and reflected everything above and beyond it like a perfect mirror. The following day a forty-mile an hour wind kicked up the water into white caps that rustled the surface into chop.

           

            Another day we ventured out to the sun deck to enjoy a barbecue with other condo dwellers, but some of their visibly grumpy attitudes and complaining didn’t allow for much quiet or peace. Then an attempt at enjoying a leisurely breakfast on the outdoor patio had to be curtailed when a couple of alert hornets zoomed in to share our breakfast sausages. (I was starting to think more and more about “survival of the fittest” while I gulped down the delicious scrambled eggs my beloved had labored to prepare for our pleasure, and then rushed inside to finish my breakfast.) On yet another patio sitting attempt, to enjoy steaming cups of freshly brewed coffee, we were treated to the raucous screeching of two blue jays that seemed to be having a territorial argument in the nearest tree. The fight may have been due to the raw, unshelled nuts we had lined up on the patio ledge for winter-preparing squirrels to snack on and sequester in their winter caches. The squirrels didn’t snag the nuts, but a jay did, and he selected the choicest ones for consumption and boldly hopped three feet into our condo through our opened patio door to search for more goodies when we neglected to line up more nuts for his dining pleasure.

            

           We thought we’d find peace during a late evening soak in the hot tub, until several raccoons thunked onto the ground several feet away from us on their way to raid the nearby trash cans. They eyeballed us and checked out our threat level before making their quick, stealthy pad across the concrete. We crouched into a corner of the hot tub and breathed exaggerated sighs of relief that a high metal fence separated us from them—a fence they would have had no problem squeezing through or under if they thought we posed a threat to them. We carefully surveyed the area before we opened the gate and returned across the grounds to our room.

           

            The following day we expected to find some sense of peace when we boarded a small paddlewheel boat for a lake tour. But ten minutes after launch, my husband was helping extract two people from their tiny, swamped fishing boat, and I was rendering aid to our injured skipper and one of the rescued people. The tour was promptly curtailed, and I rode back with one rescued person while my husband waved at me from the official lake rescue police boat carrying the other stunned fisherman. Later that afternoon, my husband, cousin, his wife, and I opted for a quiet dinner at a hilltop restaurant. Just before we walked out the door to go eat, though, the police department called for one final statement from my husband about how the skipper had handled the situation. Let’s just say, his response wasn’t peaceful.

           

            In daylight, chipmunks stealthily scurried from one scrub brush or rock cover to another, stopping only briefly to stand up, flick their tails and chirp or sniff the air before flitting under another protective cover. Cottontail rabbits do the same, except for the chirping and tail flicking. Resident dogs warned us of walking too close to their fenced, or personal walking territory.           

           

            While it may be quiet, clearly life is not “peaceful” for these littlest mountain creatures. One false move and they may end up on a hawk’s dinner plate. The same goes for the ducks when they’ve ventured onto dry land from their safer, watery habitat. And nights—while “sounding” quiet—are not full of peace, either. While some animals sleep, the nocturnal types are busy hunting and feeding. Night strolls found us on fairly high alert, too. Not just for reckless, speeding mountain drivers but for cunning coyotes, scavenging bears, and stealthy, stalking cougars.

           

            So while nature may seem peaceful to my untrained, human eye and senses, it–as scripture says—groans while awaiting its redemption upon Christ’s return. It fights for survival. Animals hunt other animals, and the ground thirsts for rehydration. Trees suffer the effects of drought, and pine needles turn brown and crisp as the trees stiffen and shrivel.

           

            And I come to realize that it is really my soul that craves peace, and—if I focus like a laser beam on the Prince of Peace who resides within my soul—I should be able to find peace anywhere—in the noisiest city or atop the quietest mountain. It is when I focus less on my surroundings and agitating circumstances and more on His perfect love that drives out fear and quiets my pounding heart, that peace—in its soul-soothing perfection—prevails.

              On the final day of our weeklong hiatus, God blessed us with a perfectly quiet, serene surrounding, (read: no one else but us), and a delicious, leisurely meal on the patio of a historic log home. (Okay, so we did have to ward off some persistent, opportunistic flies, but after the week we’d had, they seemed mundane.) We hated to leave and dragged out the lunch as long as we could before hitting the road for our return drive home. We reveled in the quiet and felt peace in our spirits, and at peace with our surroundings. It is rare that it all comes together so perfectly like that, but if I really look for it, I think it may come more often. No matter where I happen to be.

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Until next Monday, may your week be full of blessings that you receive and give, your heart be full of joy and thankfulness, and your days be filled with laughter. Build a little heaven in your life right now, and watch your heavenly garden grow!

Blessings,

Andrea

When the eyes of the soul looking out meet the eyes of God looking in, heaven has begun right here on earth. ~ A. W. Tozer

Images by Andrea Arthur Owan, and Google

Do You Want Peace? Know Your Priorities, Have an Attitude of Gratefulness, and Be Willing to Sacrifice

            Have you ever been so happy that someone had returned to you—come back into your life—that you were willing to forgive him his rash decision to believe, and even bless, your enemy; and then give up your inheritance—your and your family’s wealth—to the enemy-deceiver? That’s exactly what someone who loved King David did, and we’ll look at his gracious, merciful—and peaceful—actions today in our study of peace.

           

            In our last post, we left King David fleeing the city of Jerusalem with some of his supporters. And, as always, there are those who choose sides based on who they think will win the battle, or who they think they stand to gain the most from during the war.

           

            In Chapter 16, we again hear about Mephibosheth, (the grandson of the former King Saul and the son of David’s dearest friend, Jonathan), when his deceiving servant, Ziba tells David that Mephibosheth has remained in Jerusalem and told Ziba triumphantly that  “Today the house of Israel will restore the kingdom of my father to me.”

           

            It’s a lie, of course. Mephibosheth said no such thing. He adores David. He’s grateful to David for his gracious attention, salvation, and care.

           

            But in his haste, David, makes a severe and rash decision to hand over all of the inheritance he’d given to Mephibosheth to the deceiving Ziba.

           

            Before I go on in the story, I want to ask: Have you ever done that? Retracted a promise you made, for all of the wrong reasons? Because you were anxious, tired, scared, or threatened? Because you hadn’t done your homework, to find out if the information were true?

           

            It’s horrifying and embarrassing, isn’t it? It cleaves a gaping rift in the relationship. And it causes the other person’s heart to bleed because you didn’t trust her like she thought you did. Like peace, trust is a valuable commodity. When broken it is so very difficult—and sometimes impossible—to restore.

           

            But when we get to Mephibosheth’s response, you’ll have a greater understanding of how love and an attitude of gratefulness can overcome the wrong action and allow peace to reign.

           

            I recommend that you read all that David went through to regain his kingdom, including losing his backstabbing son, whom he dearly loved. But for today, we’ll skip to Chapter 19, verses 24-29, and read about David’s meeting with Mephibosheth.

           

           

            Now Mephibosheth the son (grandson) of Saul came down to meet the king (David). And he had not cared for his feet (he was crippled), nor trimmed his mustache, nor washed his clothes, from the day the king departed until the day he returned in peace (shalom). So it was, when he had come to Jerusalem to meet the king, that the king said to him, “Why did you not go with me, Mephibosheth?”

           

            And he answered, “My lord, O king; my servant deceived me. For your servant said, ‘I will saddle a donkey for myself, that I may ride on it and go to the king,’ because your servant is lame. And he has slandered your servant to my lord the king, but my lord the king is like the angel of God. Therefore do what is good in your eyes. For all my father’s house were but dead men before my lord the king. Yet you set your servant among those who eat at your own table. Therefore what right have I still to cry out anymore to the king?”

           

            So the king said to him, “Why do you speak anymore of your matters? I have said, ‘You and Ziba divide the land.’”

           

            The Mephibosheth said to the king, “Rather, let him take it all, inasmuch as my lord the king has come back in peace to his own house.”

           

            David had previously given Saul’s family estate to Mephibosheth, Saul’s grandson, to be farmed under him by Ziba, who had been a servant of Saul. When Ziba deceived David about Mephibosheth, David hastily gave all of the land to Ziba after Ziba. Now, as David returns triumphantly to Jerusalem, Mephibosheth goes out to meet the king. It is clear from his physical state that he has been in a state of mourning for David since David fled the city. And he defends himself by telling David of Ziba’s lie and deception.

           

            Because David is distracted or unsure what to believe, he tells Mephibosheth that he and Ziba can divide the land between them. And how does the noble-hearted, loyal and grateful Mephibosheth respond? He essentially says, as The Message reads, “Oh, let him have it all! All I care about is that my master the king is home safe and sound!”

           

            While David made a poor decision to give half of the land to the lying, disloyal Ziba, the thing we need to focus on today is Mephibosheth and his response.        

           

           

            Mephibosheth has been in mourning, and probably fasting and praying for David’s safe return—a happy ending to the kingdom mess and upheaval. He is happy his prayers have been answered.

           

            Mephibosheth considers David as more important than himself; and he seems willing to forgive Ziba his deception. To not let that ruin the peace he now feels in his heart and mind. Mephibosheth knew how to enjoy peace, and he was content to possess just that. He knows that he will continue to sit and dine at the king’s table and be given good things by King David. He is satisfied that all is once again right with the world, and he is content!

1. When you do some self-reflection, can you say you are like Mephibosheth? His actions reflect a tremendous amount of humility and true, unconditional love. He demonstrates a pure heart. He doesn’t argue with David about getting back his fair share, which would have been all of the land. Instead, he’s willing to let go of all of it. (He knew that David had given it to him out of the kindness of his heart after David ascended to the thrown, for the memory of his beloved friend Jonathan—Mephibosheth’s father. It had been a generous, benevolent gift to him in the first place.)

2. How much like the lame, dependent Mephibosheth are you in your attitude toward the Lord? I know that my flesh is quick to fight for what I consider rightfully mine, especially when I think someone has “deceived” me out of it. Essentially, stolen it from me by lying.  

I forget that I am really broken and lame like Mephibosheth; that I am at the mercy of my Father, who gives all good things. A Father who opens up the heavens and pours good things down upon me, whether I deserve them or not. I forget that all that belongs to Him is mine; and that I will always sit and feast at the King’s table. I do not need to fight for and seek out those things that will not add to my peace. It should be enough for me to know that God is on the throne and still in control.

As we leave today’s study, let us try to go forth with Mephibosheth hearts—humble, grateful, uncluttered, unconditionally loving, content. At peace.

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Until next Monday, may your week be full of blessings that you receive and give, your heart be full of joy and thankfulness, and your days be filled with laughter. Build a little heaven in your life right now, and watch your heavenly garden grow!

Blessings,

Andrea

When the eyes of the soul looking out meet the eyes of God looking in, heaven has begun right here on earth. ~ A. W. Tozer

Images by Google

Do You Want Peace? Keep Your Eyes Open, Your Ears to the Ground, and Remove Your Rose-Colored Glasses

           

            Let's imagine it. You’re the monarch of a great country you’ve been ruling for some time. You were chosen by God himself to rule; you battled hard to win control of the nation. Now you’ve left the running of the country to others. You think you can rest upon your laurels and the perceived contentment of your people. Things seem to be going along just swell when your son comes to you and asks (remember, you’re the king, and even your adult son needs to ask permission to do certain things) if he can go to a special city to him to offer a promised sacrifice. You—who are always ready and willing to encourage that kind of religious devotion—give your consent and blessing. You actually say to him: “Go in shalom (peace).” You are pleased because your son seems to be following in your footsteps of being a man after God’s own heart. Doesn’t that just make your parental heart sing!?

           

            Sounds great, doesn’t it? But wait. Things are not as they seem to be. (They rarely are.) Maybe you should have done a little checking on what your son’s been up to; maybe you should have watched over your kingdom more closely, been more attentive to the people and their needs. Had your advisors out taking notes and reporting to you more often. Maybe you should have kept your eyes open and your ears close to the ground.

           

            Without giving away too much of the story in Second Samuel 15:1-16, King David pronounces a blessing of peace upon his son, who doesn’t deserve it. Actually, he intends to misuse it. How could that happen? How could a son do such a thing to a king? To his father?

           

            Before we get further into the lesson, let’s read the story as The Message tells it.

                       

            

            As time went on, Absalom [David’s son] took to riding in a horse-drawn chariot, with fifty men running in front of him. Early each morning he would take up his post beside the road at the city gate [where disputes were addressed and judgments rendered]. When anyone showed up with a case to bring to the king for a decision, Absalom would call him over and say, “Where do you hail from?”

                       

            And the answer would come, “Your servant is from one of the tribes of Israel.”

                       

            Then Absalom would say, “Look, you’ve got a strong case; but the king isn’t going to listen to you.” Then he’d say, “Why doesn’t someone make me a judge in this country?” Anyone with a case could bring it to me and I’d settle things fair and square.” When someone would treat him with special honor, he’d shrug if off and treat him like an equal, making him feel important. Absalom did this to everyone who came to do business with the king and stole the hearts of everyone in Israel. (emphasis mine)

                       

             After four years of this, Absalom spoke to the king [David]. “Let me go to Hebron to pay a vow that I made to GOD. Your servant made a vow when I was living in Geshur in Aram, saying, “If GOD will bring me back to Jerusalem, I’ll serve him with my life.”

                       

             The king said, “Go with my blessing [Go in shalom].” And he got up and set off for Hebron.

                       

              Then Absalom sent undercover agents to all the tribes of Israel with the message, “When you hear the blast of the ram’s horn trumpet, that’s your signal: Shout, ‘Absalom is king in Hebron!’” Two hundred men went with Absalom from Jerusalem. But they had been called together knowing nothing of the plot and made the trip innocently. While Absalom was offering sacrifices, he managed also to involved Ahithophel the Gilionite, David’s advisor, calling him away from his hometown of Giloh. The conspiracy grew powerful and Absalom’s supporters multiplied.

                       

                Someone came to David with the report, “The whole country has taken up with Absalom!”

                       

                “Up and out of here!” called David to all his servants who were with him

            in Jerusalem. “We’ve got to run for our lives or none of us will escape Absalom!

            Hurry, he’s about to pull the city down around our ears and slaughter all of us!”

                       

                 The king’s servants said, “Whatever our master, the king, says, we’ll do; we’re with you all the way!” 

            

           Wow! I think we need to take a deep breath and think about what just happened. A clueless king, an indulgent father, and a conniving son. Maybe it sounds as though I’m being harsh on David, but if you know the backstory to Absalom’s behavior, and this event, you’ll know that at a time where Absalom really wanted—and needed—to have some justice rendered, (for his sister, David’s daughter), David dismissed Absalom and the event through his words, demeanor, lack of attention, and abdication of authority. After that, Absalom plants seeds of loathing and retribution in his own heart, and this is where it begins.

           

            And Absalom seems to betray his father in the worst kind of way—by first obtaining David’s blessing; and then dragging David’s troops into the deception.

Take-away Points

           

            1. David is lax in his ruling and in being a good, conscientious—attentive—father and king.

           

            2.  And Absalom is clever. He went through a lot of planning and strategy (four years of it) to gain the people’s hearts. And he patiently waited for just the right time to act.

           

            3. Absalom’s behavior duplicates that of a sly, scheming (dishonest) politician interested in power and control.

           

            4. Absalom knows how to appeal to the people’s emotions, needs, and self-interests, and they succumb to his attention and charm.

           

            5. Absalom lies to his father, David, who is blinded to his son’s deception.

           

            6. But maybe, just maybe, David had put Absalom on a pedestal in his heart, thinking Absalom could do no wrong. He may have counted Absalom as pretty close to perfect. Unfortunately, lots of parents seem to think their kids are practically perfect in every way, and they indulge their child’s every whim and desire.

Now for the introspective questions!

           

            1. Can you think of a time when you’ve let your guard down, when you’ve been too trusting, and whole heartedly, happily granted someone close to you the blessing of shalom when they came to you with what seemed like a reasonable request? A request that pleased your soul?

           

            2. Can you think of a time when you haven’t been as attentive as you should have been to what was transpiring in your “kingdom”? When you ‘ve been too self-focused, or focused on the “wrong” things. When you’ve been distracted? What could you have done differently to change the situation, or to do a better job of recognizing what was going on “behind your back’?

It always amazes me when people say, after a family member or loved one betrayed them, that they didn’t know it was coming, that they were taken totally by surprise. Certainly that can happen, especially when the perpetrator is cunning, lying, and stealthy. But so often, if you look back over the events leading up to the betrayal, you—in retrospect—see the signs, and you wonder how you could have missed something like that. You could kick yourself for missing them. Or perhaps you didn’t keep your eyes open widely enough; you didn’t keep your ears to the ground. Kick, kick, kick!

           

           

            David sent Absalom away in peace, and Absalom returned in retribution and betrayal. He returned as a conspirator against his own father. David trusted Absalom, and Absalom tore that trust into shreds.

           

            And it broke David’s heart. It’s one thing when a co-worker or acquaintance, or even a friend breaks your trust, but when your kids lie to you and betray you it’s devastating.

           

            While I’m not suggesting that parents follow their children around, not trusting anything they do and eyeballing their every move, I do think more parents need to remove their rose-colored glasses and identify their children as the fallen human beings they are. And then there are the parents who need to do a better job of being alert and attending to their children, of really paying attention to them, respecting them, and being just and merciful with them.

           

            If parents would do more of those things, I think we’d have more reciprocated blessings of peace and fewer heartaches. And the same holds true for other family members, and friends.

If you want to read how the rest of the events transpired—the palace intrigue, the lust, the lurid flouting of power, ambition and success, the affect on the nation, and the shattered heart of a father—read the rest of the story in 2 Samuel 15-20. You won’t be bored!

Next week we’ll look at how peace can cause a person to be so thrilled that they are willing to lose all of they have to keep the peace they’ve gained.

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Until next Monday, may your week be full of blessings that you receive and give, your heart be full of joy and thankfulness, and your days be filled with laughter. Build a little heaven in your life right now, and watch your heavenly garden grow!

Blessings,

Andrea

When the eyes of the soul looking out meet the eyes of God looking in, heaven has begun right here on earth. ~ A. W. Tozer

Images by Google