I have just got back from a wonderful few days holiday by the seaside. I had a lovely time and now feel very relaxed. Hopefully this feeling will last for several more days. It doesn’t seem to make any difference how many days you go away for. Even an overnight stay can seem like a decent break away from the normal humdrum of life. We didn’t do anything different or exciting, but the change must have been in our heads. We got up about the same time, ate and drank much the same. We visited some new places, beaches, country homes and different towns but nothing so exciting it took my breath away. So why did I enjoy it so much? I don’t really know but it is sitting in my heart as one of the best holidays, even though I have been on much bigger, longer, and more expensive holidays and have enjoyed all of those. I think it may have been the simplicity of this holiday. Nothing and nobody was making any demands of me. There was an all-encompassing feeling of peace and contentment. We know peace when we find it. Sometimes people feel it in a church even though they have only gone in to look at the architecture. Sometimes we feel it in a certain person’s presence. Wherever we feel it we embrace the soothing feeling. In the bible Jesus says, “My peace I give you.” This is a phrase we have probably heard before, but how does he give it to us? I don’t know the mechanics of it, but I do know how calm, serene, and contented it makes me feel. Peace. This single word carries significant meaning for believers and nonbelievers alike. Even though people do not share the same faith, we all desire peace. In this way, peace appears to be ingrained in our integrity. Jesus’ peace isn’t transient but always with us in our times of need, so I am very happy to draw on that. A good holiday and Jesus’ peace what a combination. I think I may need to try and book another break now.
This month’s book is The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion This is a moving but laugh out loud book.
God Bless
Maureen Kendall