So. What does peeling hard boiled eggs, digging holes, and shaving legs have to do with each other?

Let me tell you.

I am physically and/or genetically incapable of doing any of these things.

Eggs? Forget about it! No matter what or how I do it, they break apart in pieces.

Holes? No matter how hard I push, press or stomp on the shovel, a hole is nowhere in sight, only exhaustion.

Legs? Gaping cuts that bleed for days.

These things, I give up on. I cry uncle.

There are some other things however that I refuse to give up on.

Creating a quiet space for my heart and mind, eradicating brain fog, and following with all my being what I believe God has laid out for my life

None of the above things listed are easy. (At least for me obviously)

But important?

I have to ask myself, are they important in the scope of my life?

I have definitely decided that I can do life without some things. The perfect hard-boiled egg can be purchased at the nearby grocery. Digging holes? I have young grandsons for that, or I can call Bobby. That is what Bobby has done all his life, and he does it very well. Hairy legs? No one ever died from hairy legs, but there are creams and lotions and potions for that.

The final three, I have decided, are important for life, and health, and happiness.

In this work-a-day world, finding a quiet place is not always easy. The world is a noisy place. Some noise is to help elevate our moods, and keep us moving. Some of that noise I am convinced is because if we are quiet, we may not like the soundtrack that is playing in our head.

For my own mental health, I know that I simply must take that time to quiet myself. Even for a moment, and even if I don’t like what I’m hearing in my head.

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I was writing this on a Saturday evening. I was not completely sure where I was going with the whole thing.

When we went to church on Sunday, I found that the teaching there, really well with my topic.

Eggs? Digging holes? Hairy legs? you ask? No not at all.

But the peace part, how in my noisy life do I get there?

Where is that peace regardless of the things I can and can do?

Regardless of the circumstances I am facing in my everyday life?

The remedy was expounded upon by Pastor Ty.

Here is part of the scripture he used.

Philippians 4:4-9 English Standard Version (ESV)

⁴ Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. ⁵ Let your reasonableness^[d] be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; ⁶ do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

⁸ Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. ⁹ What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

I will rejoice, because in my life, there have been many trials, and God my Father has been walking by my side through them all. He has never told me that there will be no hard times, only that He will remain by my side. He will never leave me. It is these trials that make me stronger.

And it causes my peace to grow.

The peace of God is more than I can comprehend, and it guards my heart. It keeps it safe from all of the jabs I get from the world and the enemy. I can count on God my Father to carry my heart next to His.

And it causes my peace to grow.

I can change the way I think. It is a choice. I have always said that fear and worry were an inside job. And here, Pastor Ty says it too. He confirms my thinking yet again. “Worry is an inside job. Anxiety is borrowed stress, borrowed from tomorrow. Every time you borrow stress, it turns out badly.”

And it causes my peace to grow.

I can CHOOSE how I think. I can CHOOSE to reject anxiety. I can CHOOSE not to be stressed. I choose these things by choosing to think about what is true, and honorable, just and pure, lovely and commendable, excellent and worthy of praise.

And it causes my peace to grow.

My circumstances may or may not change, but the way I choose to think of them will.

And in that quiet place, my peace will grow.

Now. Back to the eggs, and the holes and the hairy legs.

I can spend my good time and energy on these things that do not matter, and will disappear in the blink of an eye, or I spend my energies on things that will not only help me, but others as well.

With this choice – my peace, and yours too, will grow.