Just A Little Paddlin'

There's something to be said about peace. How and where you find it. if you find it in someone or something.

 For me, its always been nature, no question. ask anyone who knows me and they will tell you to get me to a mountain or on a river. There's just something about nature that rocks my world and in a sense brings me to my knees.

 After a hard week and an especially hard two days, I jumped when Diane texted me to see if I wanted to go kayaking after class. like she even needed an answer... I laughed as she asked if I needed to go regroup before kayaking. "being on the water is my regroup time," I replied. We loaded the kayaks and headed to the Tennessee river. it was time for a little paddlin. It turned out to be a 3-hour paddling adventure full of good conversation, laughs, Jesus, and nature.(not to mention almost-tipped kayaks, caves, and waves that would make your head spin). My breath was taken away as we watched a crane skim over the water in flight. Jesus whispered "I am as close to you as that crane is to the water. hovering over, dipping the tips of my wings on you every chance I get." oh how He loves to dip his wings in my waters. And I am ever-grateful for that truth.

Like I said, nature rocks my world. but so do the simple things. like letters and packages. and today? today I got BOTH. A letter from my grandmother with a $10 bill slipped in the side. "go buy yourself some jelly beans," she said. I giggled and thought: "you got it, grandma." And when the package that was postmarked Hannah Adkins, Murfreesboro TN was put in my hands, I sighed a sigh of relief and began to cry because I knew exactly what this package held. It held music for my soul. but it also held words from a friend I have been seriously missing. I knew that her words would be those of encouragement and excitement and pure wonder. and that they were. I laughed and held my heart and thanked God as I read through her letter, all the while jamming to the CD she had packed away for me to hear. She knows my heart so well.

For me, peace comes from adventure. peace comes from home. my PEACE comes from the Lord. Because if we're being honest. he's behind the whole thing. every last bit of it. He was behind the phone call of sorrow this afternoon. He gave Diane the idea to ask me kayaking. He made that crane take flight at just.the.right.moment. He knew Hannah's package would get here today. and that my grandmother would slip silly words into that letter to remind me of family. He knew that I needed all of this. He wrapped me in his arms and said, "I'm taking care of things, my beloved. do not fret. Now, I am humbled to know that God, the God of the universe, cares enough about me to give me the most perfect Friday afternoon because I had a bad week.

believe it or not, He'll do the same for you. because he cares that much about you. If you're willing to say "God I can't do this today. take it." HE. WILL. isn't that awesome? I think, yes.

so, hey, where's your peace? are you in need of some? go talk to the Big Guy. He's got ya covered.
and THAT is the truest truth.


ps- he's closer than you think. He is closer than you think.