Peace like a River- Reflective

The story Peace like a River has so many themes and topics I could write about. The underlying theme is clearly faith. But within that one theme alone is a thousand subjects. For this blog I want to zone in on fog- walking by faith.

                I love the story of August and Reuben horseback riding early in the morning while it was foggy. Fog creates and alludes to things unseen, mystery, and even apprehension. But the fog dissipates the more the light comes and the stronger the day gets. When the light rises, it puts to rest the apprehension, mystery, and the unseen. Things become clearer and you can be more confident of where you are going.

                This is a perfect analogy for faith. We go through different seasons and trials in our lives, and things become a little foggy. Sometimes the road God calls us to walk on is filled with things that are mysterious. It’s like walking blind. Walking without seeing where you are going can cause some apprehension; I know it’s not just me. You’re afraid you’re going to run into something, stub some toes, fall down, or get lost. But you keep going, because you know you have a destination. And you realize the more you walk into the fog, the closer you are to the light; Jesus. The closer you are to Jesus, the more the fog lifts, and your road starts to come to focus.

                I think this is a subtle moment of foreshadowing for the rest of the book. The Land family is on a journey through the fog. Not just in the moment when Reuben was riding with August through literal fog, but they are embarking on a spiritually foggy journey. They have no clue what is one step ahead of them. But they are willing to run into things, stub some toes, fall down, and get lost. Because the goal of finding the lost one is more important to them than what happens along the way.

                Well that’s challenging. I had to sit and reflect that if the way I am living is with the ultimate goal and destination in mind or if I am more concerned with the falls and bumps along the way that will hurt. I want to find the joy of the destination before I even reach it. That’s some real faith. 

Peace like a River- Problematize

"People fear miracles because they fear being changed- though ignoring them will change you also."

The reoccurring theme of miracles in the book "Peace like a River" is obviously noticeable, but I feel as if it is that topic we hear about but don't listen to. Miracles are talked about like they can happen; not that they still are happening. We use the label of miracle for material things. Example, Miracle Grow. What's so miraculous about dirt enhanced with chemicals? Or, Miracle Whip. What's so miraculous about fluffy mayonnaise?

Miracles are more than plant food and sandwich spreads. Miracles are pieces of God's power being shown to His creation. They are taking an impossible situation and turning it around and doing what man cannot do in his own strength. I believe that we tone down the word miracle so it's on a level we can handle and are comfortable with. Because Swede is right, we fear by allowing God's power to openly flow, we might actually be changed and taken out of our comfort zone. But isn't that the point? We ask God for miracles to take us out of the zone we're in. We're sending God mixed signals...

I am a miracle. When I was born, I almost died. The doctors found a fluid in my lungs and they were sure I was not going to make it. But through prayer and petitioning God for the impossible, I am healed and whole. I've seen so many miracles throughout my life; blind eyes opened, deaf ears opened, lame people walking, sick people healed, people released from demonic possession. And it has changed me. But I strongly believe had I never experienced that, I would not truly believe that with God all things are possible.

Heaven is jam-packed into our souls. It's part of our spiritual DNA. Which means that as Christians, miracles are also apart of our DNA. Jesus has given us the authority and power to tap into that at any moment. Not to be reckless, but to show God's goodness. The realization of just how much God wants to do in and through us should be releasing, changing. We should fear the Lord more than we fear losing our comfort. That in and of itself would be a real miracle.

The Silence of a Woman- Annotation

Over the course of Spring break, I had the chance to sit down and look at the poems my group was doing for our project. As I was looking at the poem "The Silence of a Woman" by Liz Rosenberg, I read the word Sybil and I had absolutely no idea what that word even meant. Since I was at my home, I asked my brother, who is a literal genius, what the word meant, and the meaning of it and the related meanings shed a whole new light on this poem.

"Oh lifetime of silence!
 Words scattered like a Sybil's leaves."

Sybil, in classic mythology is a Prophetess, witch, or fortune-teller. I was so excited over this newfound definition I couldn't contain myself. It is ironic how the sentence starts out saying a lifetime of silence, and then proceeds to compare it to the scattered words of a Prophetess like leaves. According to an online source, House of Names, leaves have a symbolism for happiness (internet). And for those who don't know, a Prophetess is someone who speaks, and upon speaking, they know their words will either fall on deaf ears or attentive ones. And the words that they speak are the life of the Prophetess; her happiness. In essence, Rosenberg uses this drastic simile to say that living in silence is just as bad as having the words of a Prophetess scattered about, almost as if they are falling on deaf ears and not being heard.

Upon knowing this information, I feel as if the text has a new layer of drama. It's so easy to read over that sentence and not give it a second thought, but the depth and seriousness of what Rosenberg is trying to convey in the poem I believes lies in these two lines. Every woman has a voice. Every woman deserves to be heard before she's lived so long her voice becomes just a soulful wind that hopes it can keep up. Every woman has something worth being heard. I hope the world starts listening.

                                                          

                                                                 Works Cited
                      Houseofnames.com. Swyrich Corporation, 2010-2011. 15 March 2011.

Lanyard- Creative

Passionate- From themed birthday parties every year since I was born, to mailing me care packages in college, everything you put your hands to, you are passionate about. Your passion for God, ministries, and striving to be your best has been instilled into my life from a young age. Because of your example, I am not only passionate about everything I do, but I've allowed my passions to become compassion. I've never said thank you for that.


Adoring- From things like putting me in dresses and bows, to thinking I am number one even when I fail, you have always adored me. In your eyes, I can succeed at anything. You have always modeled an adoration that will do anything to help us, such a selfless love. I've never said thank you for that.


Responsible- From making sure we made it to every appointment, to making sure we had every school supply, you have shown me what responsibility is. Those times you made us chore charts and we did not get allowances, that surely taught me responsibility. You taught me how to manage my life. From school, to money, to time, to people, to my spiritual life. You've shown me how to be responsible. I've never said thank you for that.


Empathetic- From kissing all my skinned hands and knees, to holding me while my heart was breaking, you've shown me what a life of empathy is. You may not have always understood, but you were there to try and feel what I was feeling. Because of you, empathy is one of my top five strengths. I've never said thank you for that.


Near- From having your room right across the hallway, to running out to the driveway when I fell and needed you to catch me, you have always been near. Since going away to college, I've learned that being near to someone is not always in a physical sense, but close in heart. I know you are only a phone call away. I've never said thank you for that.


Teaching- From homeschooling me, to showing me how to fold towels correctly, you've always been teaching me. You've taught me book knowledge, life knowledge, and spiritual knowledge. The moment you brought me into this world, you committed to teach me how to live life. Because of you, I am now a capable adult. I've never said thank you for that.


Strong- You both have always been a rock in my life. Your entire marriage exemplifies the word strong. You have weathered every storm, held on when you weren't sure if you could, and had the strength to let go even when it was painful. The obstacles you have overcome have silently taught me what it is like to be strong. Because of your actions and not your words, you've taught me how to be strong. To hold on when I thought I couldn't, to let go when it broke my heart, and to stand when everything around me was falling apart. I've never said thank you for that.

I'm not sure if even this will ever do you justice, but this is my lanyard. A simple token that I hope will somehow make the playing field even. You have given me so much, and the smallest gift I can return to you is my thanks.