Smoke and Mirrors

by Michele Boy | July 11, 2024

 Life is going faster and faster. The list of tasks I have to complete has my head spinning and my heart racing. 
We got away for a few days. It was short. But we were immersed in nature. Cell phone service was spotty. I slowly began unwinding. We set up our tent, hiked a little, and ate a meal by the campfire. The first night in the tent I tossed and turned thinking about work, tasks at hand, things I needed to get done. 
  But the next morning, I began to let go a little. The rush inside of me slowly started to melt away. Near the end of the third day I sat in front of a campfire quiet and at peace. I didn’t want to leave. We spent a few hours hiking around. 
  When I mentioned we needed to leave the next morning my husband and my daughter were not pleased. We could have stayed there for a week.  
  I was reminded how suddenly things can change- sometimes for the good. I prayed God I can’t wait to see what you do next. As I stared off into the trees, a deer appeared. I watched him move through the brush. 
I was grateful for the peace, the view, and the deer. 
I was unaware that things would rapidly unfold as we got closer to home. Faster and faster the list of tasks came in, and soon I felt like I was underwater. By Monday evening all my peace was gone.  
  I started to take that frustration out on my family. I felt abandoned by friends and life was swallowing me whole. 
It only took a couple conversations with friends, some prayer, and completing a few of the tasks to help me feel more in control. Slowly things began to work out. The list while still huge became more manageable and my peace started to return. Not the sitting in front of the campfire peace but peace nonetheless. 
  It reminded me how we can get caught up in the world. I don’t mean temptations or the lure of the world. I mean that feeling that nothing will work out and everything is falling apart.  You feel like you are the only one out there. And if you stopped or quit, the project would completely fall apart. 
 Have you been there?
My first reaction was to blame others. Then I wondered how much of it I brought on myself.  
  People can offer suggestions during those times like take a break, do something nice for yourself.  But really the nicest thing I could think of was completing my long list or at least a few things on it. 
  In truth, I did need a break. I needed to walk away. 
Just for a few minutes. I needed to pray, to breathe, to talk with a friend. 
  By the end of Tuesday, I had a number of things checked off my list. I was at peace that if some things didn’t work out, that was how it was meant to be.
  But the biggest thing I noticed was when I am stressed, I see the world differently. 
I see events and people skewed. My perspective alters and sadly. I can’t see clearly. 
  That discomfort woke me up. I don’t enjoy being that way. Everyone has those moments, particularly right before the county fair.  lol. Too specific?
  I once heard the saying, don’t hand your peace over like you are passing the salt at the table. 
 It was a good analogy to remind me I need to make sure that I am getting the things I need. 
 1 Corinthians 13 1 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
 Basically what is the point of all these amazing opportunities in life if we don’t have love? To win everything and not have love. To gain it all and be surrounded by no one. Why bother?
  It is a good reminder that my peace is worth something. But how do you keep that while trying to pay bills, complete the daily routine tasks, help others, and volunteer in your community.
Maybe remembering that this too shall pass. 
  But keeping my focus on God reminds me that most of the drama is smoke and mirrors designed to steal our peace. 
Maybe our prayer needs to be God, I can’t wait to see what you do next!