The serenity of the moment

The stillness of the day

The reticence of all around me

The stark contrast of clamor

Was both shocking and beguiling

Contrasted to the usual mayhem

The normal frantic chaos

The daily busy that invades constantly

The now stillness was sobering, disquieting even.

The only sounds….

The blowing of the breeze

Tickling the branches

Of trees overhead and all about

The gentle rippling

And gurgling of the stream

Water cascading over rock

The ever present movement of water

The chirping of the birds

The croak of the frog

The buzz of insect

The plop and splash of water dwellers

For the longest of time

I permit the orchestra of nature

To serenade my senses

And bring a stillness of heart

The stillness without

Standing in stark contrast

To the frantic raging

Of the inner turmoil that assaults.

Perhaps this is why

The stillness about and around

Seems so alien and absurd

For it is foreign and unknown

Peace.  Stillness.  Silence.

These are infrequent companions

Much desired but often absent

Forgotten and overlooked all too often

So much is their absence

That on the rare occasion when they show

Discomfort and uncertainty abound

The thing desired we now avoid

Peace, though desperately desired

Also becomes our greatest fear

For we know not what it is

Nor do we know how to acquire it.

Peace, the cessation of turmoil and conflict

Is not found primarily

In the absence of circumstantial turbulence

But rather it is a fruit of something else.

Peace can reign in the heart

Even while the dark clouds soar above

Even while thunder and rain pour down

Even while the earth quakes and trembles

Because peace is the fruit

Of intimacy with The Righteous One

Peace is the affect

Of the one Sovereign over all

Peace is possible because it isn’t circumstantial

Peace is possible because it is transcendent

It is not dependent on created thing

But on the one true eternal being

For this reason peace can flow

Constant and consistent

Powerful and mighty

Calm and Serene

Comforting and assuring

Mesmerizing and alluring

Abundant and full of vitality

Like a baby comforted and stilled

Upon the nourishing breast of a mother

So too we find rest

In the bosom of our eternal father

The Righteous One

Peace will flow like a river

When we cast ourselves upon Him

When we rest in the strength of His arms

When we sustain ourselves with His abundance

Peace is FOR the righteous

Peace is FROM the Righteous One

Constant like a river

Abundant and mighty

Ever present and reliable

Flowing in proportion to the need

Flowing from the eternal source

Which never fades or fails

What a glory!

What a truth!

Peace like river

Floods the hearts

Of those who trust the Righteous One!

Come turmoil or trouble,

No power do you hold

When the river of peace

Is flooding my soul!

Michael Stitzel