Finding Peace

Where do you find peace? Where does rest come easily to you? Often, I am most rested and at peace near water, there is something about a body of water that causes me to relax completely.

Yesterday, as I was spending time with God, I found peace in His omniscience. Omniscient means having complete or unlimited knowledge, awareness, or understanding; perceiving all things. Now , if you are like me, I have things I have done that I am not proud of, things I do not necessarily want to advertise or even, at times, admit to. To my dismay, I still struggle with some insecurities and fears. Yet, as I was reading from A.W. Tozer's book "The Knowledge of the Holy" I found peace in the truth of the words I read.

"...how unutterably sweet is the knowledge that our Heavenly Father knows us completely. No talebearer can inform on us, no enemy can make an accusation stick; no forgotten skeleton can come tumbling out of some hidden closet to abash us and expose our past; no unsuspected weakness in our characters can come to light to turn God away from us, since He knew us so utterly before we knew Him and called us to Himself in the full knowledge of everything that was against us."

"For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed, says the Lord, who has compassion on you.' (Isaiah 54:10)"

There is a peace that I cannot explain in being known completely and loved regardless. Peace in the fact that I do not have to strive, prove or explain myself, because He even knows my heart motivation, pure or not. Nothing is hidden from God. Yesterday, I had an understanding with both my heart and mind that I am known completely, in everything good and bad and also, loved completely.  In this, I found peace greater than any.  

It is safe to cycle again!

The snow has melted and the ice is finally gone - it is Spring! And I am extremely glad.  I have officially had 4 beautiful bicycle rides all over Skien.  Today was one of my favorite rides, despite the wind and also the hill I went down only to go back up again because it was a dead end. I set of with a friend (Erine) and we had a fun start until her bike chain broke in half.  Luckily, we were near a friends house and could borrow his bike so that we could continue on.  It was a great day!

I think Spring brings out life, not only the obvious life like flowers in bloom, but something inside of me comes more alive when the sun comes out. I want to experience life, be out and about; go on adventures. Yes, the rain will come during spring too (in fact, it already has come), but that only increases my joy for beautiful sunny days. In every joke there often is a little truth and the joke here in Norway is "enjoy the sun for the month that it is out". Of course, it does shine more than 30 days a year here, but often it feels it is true after the long winter and between the rain. Nonetheless, I am going to soak in every drop of vitamin D from the sun that I can, I so very much appreciate it.

Happy Spring to You!

I was contemplating.

"Why is it that the most beautiful animals on earth are hidden away from all humans except those wearing elaborate SCUBA equipment? Who are they beautiful for?  - Phillip Yancey

I am reading the book "I Was Just Wondering" by Phillip Yancey, a book of many questions and a few answers.  There are a couple of questions that I am pondering and as I watched a video (that really has nothing to do with nature), I had a "wow" moment.  My wow moment: It isn't about us.  I know this to be true in my mind, but it's hard to understand with my heart.  I know the world doesn't revolve around me, personally, but sometimes I think it does around us as humans.  Yet, we aren't the only thing in the world.  No, I won't become an extreme environmentalist, but I have more awe of God.  I also hope it will decrease selfishness and self centered perspectives in my life.  


Do you want to know the other quote that has me thinking quite a lot?

Why does man feel so sad in the twentieth century? Why does man feel so bad in the very age when, more than in any other age, he has succeeded in satisfying his needs and making over the world for his own use?  - Walker Percy