It’s Noisy Here, But Peace Beckons…

It is one of those God-ordained ironies that I have ended up with such a noisy life. I love solitude. I love cleanliness, quiet and peace. I need it to be able to think. But the Lord gave me five children to raise and my adult life has been spent with little fingerprints on my glass doors, bikes sprawled all over the driveway, quarrels to referee and lots and lots of noise. Pianos crashing, violins screeching, neighbor kids in and out of my door, undoing the Windex job I just completed. As much as I love my children, it can be wearying. When I lie down to take a nap, I can hear my youngest with his tribe of grubby little friends pounding around the house with their Supersoakers, airplanes from the nearby airport roaring overhead, dogs barking and someone’s lawnmower droning on down the block. Then there is the other noise. The job that I do as radio producer and host is stressful. You cannot please everyone, and some days I seem to please no one. I need only open my email to hear about it. My news blog on the state of the evangelical church causes feedback that is often the equivalent of a shrill scream. It’s no wonder that some days, I find myself dreaming of walking on quiet country lanes or sitting on the porch of a cabin up near the boundary waters of Minnesota where my family camped in my childhood.

I remember those evenings on the islands at Lake Vermillion. As dusk would settle in, the lake would turn to glass. All we could hear would be the cry of the loons and the gentle rustlings of the little animals going about their evening business in the brush. The lofty pine trees would stand still, like statues, their branches touched with glory in the glow of the setting sun. A mother duck with her babies would paddle silently by on their way home for the night. Those were wonderful times.

This blog is my quiet place. No controversy, no outrage at the terrible things happening in the church or the world. This is a refuge for tired minds and only beautiful things and edifying things are allowed here. If we do not take time out from the battles of this life, we ultimately suffer combat fatigue. So, welcome to my quiet place. We serve a wonderful God who understands our need for quiet at times. The Lord Jesus when He was here on earth went away and rested. So must we. It is Jesus himself who is our soul’s rest.

Jesus, I am resting, resting,
In the joy of what Thou art;
I am finding out the greatness
Of Thy loving heart.
Thou hast bid me gaze upon Thee,
And Thy beauty fills my soul,
For by Thy transforming power,
Thou hast made me whole.

O, how great Thy loving kindness,
Vaster, broader than the sea!
O, how marvelous Thy goodness,
Lavished all on me!
Yes, I rest in Thee, Belovèd,
Know what wealth of grace is Thine,
Know Thy certainty of promise,
And have made it mine.

Simply trusting Thee, Lord Jesus,
I behold Thee as Thou art,
And Thy love, so pure, so changeless,
Satisfies my heart;
Satisfies its deepest longings,
Meets, supplies its every need,
Compasseth me round with blessings:
Thine is love indeed!

Ever lift Thy face upon me
As I work and wait for Thee;
Resting ’neath Thy smile, Lord Jesus,
Earth’s dark shadows flee.
Brightness of my Father’s glory,
Sunshine of my Father’s face,
Keep me ever trusting, resting,
Fill me with Thy grace.