Have you ever had one of those mornings, when things did not go
smoothly? Well, I had one of those
mornings very recently. Now, I learnt a
long time ago that I am not a morning person and so, if I have to go out in the
morning, then I need to have things pretty much sorted the night before, and I
had done that. But, I didn't factor in
things not going to plan, as they did this particular morning, and so it was a
chaotic morning.
I turn on the computer so that I can quickly check the weather, to see if
today's excursion to the park with other mums and children is going to
happen. Aaaah, the computer is not
working properly. Why now? I have to head out soon, but I need to know
whether we're going to the park, or I need to contact people.
In the meantime, it's feed little people, dress them, tidy up the kitchen,
have a shower without the toddler destroying something or herself, but I can't
check the weather. So, it's text one of
the mums who's coming to the park with her kids and find out what the weather
is doing in town, in between fiddling with the computer cables to see if
something is amiss, washing up, cooking toast, making beds, finding the clothes
I had put out, keeping an eye on the toddler and answering her many, many
waffly comments, which just get louder and louder until she gets a
response. After much frustration, I
ring the local computer techies that my daughter used to work for, and the girl
assures me I don't need to bring it in, it's just a cable out of whack. Just find it and fix it, and it'll all be
fine. Yep, sure. Or, turn the computer and modem and router
off, back on and wait and see what happens.
Okay, back to texting, ringing the other mum, washing up with the now luke
warm water, picking up the toddler's messes, keeping an eye on the time,
retrieving the clothes for everyone that the toddler has now spread everywhere,
finishing breakfast, blah, blah, blah.
Breakfast finished, have a shower, while the 5 year old watches Sesame
Street, with the toddler locked safely in the bathroom, answering her many
comments about various parts of my anatomy, and try to figure out the many
little things I need to remember as I head out the door, remembering too that
the much-needed rain has stuffed our plans and will make the drive over 12km of
dirt road 'interesting'. Out of the
shower, and check the computer - yay, it's working! Quick check - the weather is going to be
much the same all day, so the venue changes to Maccas - not nearly as nice as
the park. Oh well, another text and
phone call to say I'm going to be late, the road is 'interesting' though not
dreadful, just enough to slow things down even more. I'm very grateful for the rain - we need it
badly - but why today? Did I not listen
to the Lord well when I sought Him for when would be a good day to catch up in
the park? Maybe He wanted us to meet at
Maccas. I don't know. I want to get it right, to avoid chaos as
much as possible, and it frustrates me when I get it 'wrong'. Maybe I didn't, maybe God had other, better
plans.
This morning was chaotic. I want
to write about chaos, this kind of chaos.
But, I also want to write about the kind of chaos that is deeper than
just a chaotic morning - the kind of chaos that sometimes leads to that kind of
morning, but more than that, to dysfunctional relationships, harsh words,
unreal expectations, turmoil, unforgiveness, ill-health, etc.
The Lord has been speaking to me a lot about chaos and Shalom - they are at
opposite ends of our experience and we generally live somewhere in between,
sadly more often closer to chaos than Shalom.
But, Shalom is what the Lord wants for us, so I want to learn what that
Shalom is and how to get there and stay there, as much as possible.
Well, we all know what chaos is, but what is Shalom?
According
to Strong's Concordance 7965 Shalom means completeness, wholeness, health, peace,
welfare, safety, soundness, tranquility, prosperity, perfectness, fullness,
rest, harmony, the absence of agitation or discord.
Shalom
comes from the root verb shalom meaning to be complete, perfect and
full.
Shalom is being at peace in every area of our lives.
Do all those words fit your morning, your day, your life? Mmmm, maybe occasionally they all fit, but
more often than not, they don't.
My plan was to do this great research project on Shalom and put together
some kind of theoretical precis on it all, publish it here, and move on. Not going to happen. God is much more interested in my living
Shalom than learning about it in theory, so I hope to share with you what I'm
learning and how it's changing my life, our lives, and perhaps it will help you
recognise the chaos in yours and move closer to His Shalom for you.
Isa
26:3 You will keep in perfect peace
those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you. NIV
Isa 26:3 Thou wilt keep him in shalom
shalom, whose yetzer (mind-set) is stayed on Thee; because he trusteth in Thee.
Linking up at Thriving Thursdays
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