Peace Like A River

Isa 48:18 Oh that you had paid attention to My commandments! Then your peace would have been like a river, and your righteousness like the waves of the sea.

Yesterday, my 80 year old Dad, my 40 something Brother, and my bad 52 year old self, went for a bike ride down at the Enola Low Grade Rail Trail. The picture above is gazing upon the river from above on Turkey Hill, where the dairy is and some big-ass wind turbines. I hiked up there a few weeks ago.

The ride yesterday, on the trail, was known unofficially as "Bikes Before Beer." 

The sky was blue and serene for the ride down the trail (five miles) along the Susquehanna. We took a bit of a break before turning around and the tempest came out of nowhere. Like the Perfect Storm. We barely got back to the cars before all hell broke loose. Needless to say, the last five miles back--even though it was a slight incline and against the roaring wind and incoming rain--went considerably quicker than the way down.

The weather in Central Pa. recently has been rain, rain, rain, but the last couple of days we have had a daily cycle of beautiful weather turned beastly and then beastly turned beautiful.

I think the weather here needs some med mood stabilizers. Bipolar. For about three weeks, we have been in a rain pattern. Since I have been off every Friday in May for Comp Days, I have noted the weather each Friday. Rain each Friday. I had been warned by a buddy a day previous that the rain was coming but didn't heed the information. It was nice when we left. I figured it would last. It didn't.

The river was interesting to watch yesterday as the storm attacked. There were waves on the surface but in the deep waters, not much changed when tumultuous weather struck. I know from kayaking on the Susquehanna River that the river is far too powerful to be swayed by what is going on above the surface in the storm. Sure, some choppy waves and the like but really not much changes below.

Peace is powerful when it is generated from the deep in our souls. In our times when conviction is considered confining, the irony is that to believe that everything is valid is another way of saying nothing is--and peace is illusory because it comes down to "Say Who?" and the waves of public opinion.

Nature points to God's Truth. My book is based on the premise that in times of transition, truth is particularly important. It provides peace. Peace like a river.