Overwhelming; Peace

This morning I drove to teach early lessons,

brought to tears as I thought about thing after thing

in this broken world that just makes me feel

like it is all too overwhelming much.

Sometimes it just seems like the darkness wins,

no matter how much things start to look up, 

and I am aware of my great need for a God

who Overwhelms the darkness.

This cottage for me is a place of refuge,

a fact I am overwhelmed by at frequent and surprising moments.

[Seriously, this weekend I was sweeping the steps,

close to tears at the thought of leaving it someday.]

I have learned in these long seasons

that in the midst of overwhelming,

peace is what I'm craving.

And this cottage brings me peace.

~~

So, speaking of overwhelming,

 I told you we went to Ikea.

What I didn't tell you  was that I found the most exciting, most sweetest,

most exactly what I had in my mind but didn't think I could afford

thing.

Sunday found me back at home,

having a little church in the yard.

And then, I pulled that thing out of my car bit by bit,

 ready to put it all together.

 I got out my tools,

 and assembled until

 voila! a table appeared.

 And then, piece by piece,

 some chairs began to form

 until

 voila! there was a table with chairs in my lovely yard.

 The most perfect thing.

 That evening Katy came over for appetizers 

before we met some friends for drinks and late dinner

 and that sweet table was the perfect place...

 until the bugs drove Katy away.

[Who knew she hated bugs so much?!]

 But then there was a Memorial Day gathering

at which that table helped,

 and I lit all the lights

 and Katy claimed her personal citronella

and we dwelt in that yard.

Each of us carrying our own overwhelming thing,

but just a little bit more at peace

because of such a place.
~~

This morning I drove to teach early lessons,

brought to tears as I thought about thing after thing

in this broken world that just makes me feel

like it is all too overwhelming much.

And I thought about the friend after friend,

and felt their burdens load my back.

And though wisdom might be to only carry my own,

I felt in that moment how Jesus must feel,

taking each one to himself.

And I looked straight at him

and he looked straight at me,

and I handed them over

each one by each one.

There is peace in the yard

and the presence of friends;

sure enough, yes, it is true.

But the peace that I crave is far deeper than this;

It's the Peace of knowing

my burdens are His.