Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Finding Peace in a Complicated World

I got out unlocked the gate and walked down to the house. Rhonda followed along behind me in the van. As I approached the house I noticed the outside light was not on. I unlocked the door and turned on the light--nothing. We had just driven five and a half hours only to find out the electricity was off.

Not knowing where any flashlights were and not wanting to try to unpack in darkness we got back in the van and decided to find a place to stay for the night. I told Rhonda I thought Lewisburg was our best bet. After driving an hour we found out there was no room in the inn(s).

So we called ahead and found one room in Princeton, West Virginia. An hour and fifteen minutes later we were heading to our room for a good night sleep.

You know, life was much easier when it was simple. Now that it is complicated we take things for granted. We show up expecting everything to be perfect. That is not always the case. In the last few years my trips to the farm in Wayside have had a few surprises. I remember walking into the house after the furnace had blown soot everywhere. We have gotten there on different occasions to find no heat, no water and now no electricity. There has been times when family can't get along while we are there or even when were not. Life is just complicated sometimes.

It doesn't keep us away though. There is a peacefulness there that is like nothing else. Unplugged from the world you are able to enjoy the company of the people around you. Cell phone usage is hit or miss at best. There is no internet and no facebook but all is good.

It is a good Sabbath place. It is good to just be there with family and with God.

I have learned that we let things that complicate life get in the way of really experiencing the presence of God. When the Sabbath approaches, those who practice Judaism put aside the things that make life complicated. Some households even have what is called a Sabbath box. When you enter for the Sabbath meal you put anything that gets in the way into the box--Cell phone, computer or ipod.

Then you spend time with family putting aside your differences so there is real peace. You share a meal together remembering the place from where you have come. You remember those before you who taught you values and how to live at peace with one another.

That is what the world needs, it needs more peace. This is why God told us to remember the Sabbath and keep it holy. He wanted us to unplugged from those things that make make life complicated so we could experience his presence.

That is why we go back to Wayside from time to time even when it seems hard. We do it to get away from the world and experience what God has blessed us with--the places, the family and simplicity in a complicated world.

God, help us learn to unplug from that which is complicated so we can experience you more often.