Peace

The quietness of the woods speaks to my soul in ways I am only able to feel. The beauty of stillness teaches me to wait, to hope, and gives me a sense of peace which I can only receive from a beautiful forest. It’s odd, really. I could be outside in a prairie, a dessert, or any number of places and see the beauty of God’s creation. But it seems that the woods almost speak to me.

It is rare to see a discontent tree. :)

They are determined, it seems, to glorify God right where He has placed them. To glorify God with their whole being is their purpose, and they do it so well.

A twisted tree is often used as an analogy of a wayward person—they have not followed God, but have turned after the cares of this world. But I don’t like this analogy, as it takes very little of the character of a tree into account.

Rather, although a tree can be very twisted and turned, it always tries it’s hardest to stay straight. Its very nature is to point upwards, and whether it is twisted or straight, a tree always points upwards at the top. The soul of the tree is not necessarily happy—neither have I gotten ‘happiness’ from being in the woods—but the tree is at peace.

The feeling, or act of peace, is one of those things that I can’t really choose. I truly believe that I can choose Joy. Joy, unlike happiness, is not a feeling or emotion. Joy is taking conscious delight in the daily things around you. Sometimes it is hard to be joyful, especially in times of emotional despair. But this is the topic for another post. ;)

Peace is really a gift from God—the word shalowm literally means “completeness, soundness, welfare, peace: a) completeness (in number) b) safety, soundness (in body) c) welfare, health, prosperity” (from the Blue Letter Bible online)

Peace is a feeling of completeness, or of soundness. Peace is something, I believe, that is given as a gift from God. Just think of John 14: 27:

"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."

And never am I more ‘at peace’ than when I am still in the woods. What brings the most peace to you?