Blog 863 – 01.03.2018

When Peace Like A River Attends My Way…It Is Well With My Soul

The title, altered only slightly, is from a hymn I learned as a boy. I was telling a dear friend this morning that about the only thing that I really miss about church is singing together with other people. I always loved that part and am grateful for the experience and all the the words and melodies that I memorized. Some of the doctrine is to me quite foreign now but the message of a big, enduring, all encompassing love still rings true in my heart.

I believe The Universe, my favorite name for deity, God, the One, ever intends for each of us to know peace like a river in our souls. That river is springing up in our soul, our innermost being, from whence flows the well head of great waters, great cleansing, healing, transporting waters. If you think that I am just waxing poetic just get quiet and listen to the breakers crashing on the rocks of distant shores that is your own heart beat, there to remind you and me that there is a peaceful river of water flowing through us at all times. Pardon my mixed metaphors.

The conclusion of that hymn from which the title of today’s blog comes is:

“It is well, it is well, with my soul.”

Is it well with your soul today? Take your own pulse at the beginning of this new year and determine who and what you are going to believe, your often confused and bewildered mind, your sometimes troubled and broken heart, your eyes too often tricked by the world’s slight of hand or within you that peaceful river’s flow that will take your thoughts, your feelings, and guide even your sometimes sad eyes longing for home all the way there on its current.

Relax, enjoy the ride. If not before, I will see you when we get home. “What a day of rejoicing that will be.” I do recall one the best things that I ever heard in church was a man talking about people being afraid of dying. He said with a smile, “You can’t threaten me with heaven.” Mine has already begun here and it is all great sailing from here on with peace like a river attending my way even amid the occasional storm.

Your friend and fellow traveler,

David White

Sometimes I feel like I have found my church, without the guilt, the judging, the condemning, and the thinking that I or anyone has a corner on God or the truth. Amen, preach it, brother.