Driving back home from California was gloriously uneventful. No flat tires in the middle of the night. No cussing at the tire jack. No scavenging for tires. Just the road, a diet soda and talking about the eternal verities.
I really love those chats. Particularly when I’m exploring thoughts and ideas I’d never considered before. Wondering if my “take” on the universe needs tweaking or if my current view is the right one. There were several “aha” moments on this little trip and I’d share them with you, but I think they were meant just for me. They brought clarity and a deeper understanding of things I’ve been worried about, or maybe I should say unsure about. I was alternately teary eyed and celebrant with these discoveries, but most importantly, I felt peace.
I’m pretty sure anyone on a mission to be happy treasures the moments of peace above any other happiness that enriches the day. Particularly that peace that passeth understanding.
We have a joke in our family about that line from the New Testament. When my sister-in-law was a kid attending a summer Bible camp she came home singing a new song. “I’ve got that pizza pasta understanding down in my heart, down in my heart, down in my heart. I’ve got that pizza pasta understanding down in my heart, down in my heart today.” The family thought it was odd that Tracy came home from Bible camp celebrating Italian food. (this wasn’t, after all, a Catholic Camp) But eventually they discovered that the song was NOT a “pizza pasta understanding” but a “peace that passeth understanding”.
I’ve come to appreciate that sometimes that peace comes WITH understanding, but often it comes even though we can’t understand. At least not now.
There were times during the drive that Lynne would drift off to sleep and I was alone with all my thoughts and no distractions. No radio, no CDs, no phone calls. Just the quiet and the accompanying peace. It was a gift and I was truly grateful to receive it. I quietly celebrated the moment by humming the tune to “I’ve got tha peace that passeth understanding down in my heart”.
After about thirty miles of this I had an uncontrollable urge to pull off the freeway at the next truck stop and get a slice of pizza.
4 Comments
Priceless. I will never look at pasta and pizza the same again. Thanks for sharing the song, with both lyrics. It is in perspective isn’t it? When I was a kid, apparently I had a perception problem because I thought it was “Release Society” not Relief Society. I thought all the moms were “released” from the daily chores and kids while they attended these meetings
Perspective. I think if my kids are honest, they would say mom still has a perception problem. They just don’t have my glorious “view” yet.
Peace is totally undervalued and not fully understood. Clarity, “aha”, and deeper understanding is priceless. Happy your trip home was less eventful and safe!
thank you for reminding me of peace. sometimes the search for joy pushes peace out of view, when peace can be the joy. I had that experience last week- I won’t share, it was just for me- but thanks for helping me remember it.
I think peace comes at unexpected moments like the silence around me when my thoughts can be still and listen to what I feel from within. In this world of pushing and rushing, it’s easy to forget what silence is and how it can strengthen us in times of depression and trials. I love playing my violin and it brings a peace because of the sweetness of the sounds it makes(or I make with my bowing).
People think that they have to run around and be busy in order to be happy and feel productive. I find that the quiet moments of solitude is my best times when I can just retreat into my thoughts and reflect upon things in my life.
Peace. I have felt it a few times. Nursing Ginna. Walking home from walking the baby-sitter home. Having birthed Cam – after it was all over and they put the warm blanket on me. Few other times. The peace that surpasseth all understanding – I know about that, but I haven’t known it.
Gin’s lyrical revelation: “Search, Blunder and pray . . . “