A Surprise Delivery of Peace

Recently, I had an unusual meeting with a bird – inside my car. I opened my car door and something brushed against my leg. I cautiously turned to look and found a robin, blinking back at me. On being noticed, the robin hopped into the passenger seat of my car and peacefully settled on the front dash. She showed no sign of fear. She curiously and calmly looked for her exit to head back into the open sky. I opened the car door and she hop, hop, hopped - out of my car and into the sunny day.

As she flew away I wondered if this feathered friend had a message for me and googled the meaning of, “meeting a robin close up and personal”. I learned that in some Indigenous traditions, robins are understood as messengers of Peace. This understanding of Robins as messengers of peace, is one that still resonates with me. In the middle of a busy day of errands, worries and many expectations - I needed a surprise delivery of PEACE. If you were to encounter a robin of peace today, how would you respond?

The appearance of the robin in my car, brought to mind other affirmations of peace in Jesus’s saying, “Do not be afraid. My Peace I give to you.” Did you know that the phrases, “Do not be afraid” or “Fear not!” appear in the Bible 70 times and various forms of do not to fear total roughly 145 times?

These scriptures, as well as the unexpected visit of a robin in my car, are poignant invitations into a spiritual practice of releasing fear and seeking peace. How might a shift from fear to peace help us see things in a new way?

This coming Sunday, we continue in the Gospel of Matthew 14 and hear the account of Jesus walking on water. In this text, Peter and the disciples are caught in a sudden storm, and are challenged to step out in faith to experience unexpected peace. May God’s peace take us by surprise - and help us navigate the storms we face.

Questions to Consider this Week:

1. If you could trade fear for peace in one area of your life, what would it be?

2. Have you ever been taken by surprise by unexpected peace? What happened? How did you respond?

3. What is your favorite “Be Not Afraid” Bible Story?

Comments

Sometimes things are just too small

Sweet Dreams by David Whyte from 'The House of Belonging' When your eyes are tired the world is tired also. When your vision has gone no part of the world can find you. Time to go into the dark where the night has eyes to recognize its own. There you can be sure you are not beyond love. The dark will be your womb tonight. The night will give you a horizon further than you can see. You must learn one thing. The world was made to be free in. Give up all other worlds except the one to which you belong. Sometimes it takes darkness and the sweet confinement of your aloneness to learn anything or anyone that does not bring you alive is too small for you. The slumber of winter has transitioned into spring. The season of lent's wilderness journey has carried us to a time of resurrection, joy and new life. This poem by David Whyte speaks about transition and change. According to the poet's perspective, a time of rest or dreaming can lead to an opportunity for growth, developme...

Sunny and rainy day friends

There are two kinds of friends in the world: Sunny day friends and rainy day friends. This is a statement that my Mom used to remind me of when I was in the midst of drama or conflict with one school friend of another. There are lots of people that we define as friends, but they are really acquaintances. Two men were out hunting in the northern U.S. Suddenly one yelled and the other looked up to see a grizzly charging them. The first started to frantically put on his tennis shoes and his friend anxiously asked, "What are you doing? Don't you know you can't outrun a grizzly bear?" "I don't have to outrun a grizzly. I just have to outrun you!" This story is funny, but it does help define the distinct difference between a rainy day friend and a sunny day friend. The sunny-day-friend is more concerned with watching out for their own health and wellness, than their friends' wellbeing. On the other hand, a rainy day friend is willing to take risks, work fo...

FCE - Dog stroke in spine

Kahlúa is our 15 year old dog that we adopted from the Humane Society when she was four. She joined our family and has been with us for eleven years so far. This morning we found her laying on the carpet in the dining room and was unable to get up and go outside. After letting her rest for a few hours, I gave her some bread to eat and she got up. She was wobbly so I scooped her up and took her outside to go to the bathroom. She managed to remain standing for a few minutes, but was back down quickly. Her back legs did not want to support her even though she was trying to walk. By this point, she had begin to cry so I called the vet and they said to bring her in for an evaluation. My kids and I tearfully wrapped her up in a blanket and drove to the vet. It seemed as if we were sitting in the waiting room forever. The vet told me that her heart, eye function, and lungs were great - also taking into consideration her age of 15! The problem seemed to be FCE - firocartilanginous embolism: w...

Uphill idealist

Search This Blog