Category: Art

Peace Like a River

On By Charis PsalloIn Art, Mountains, Photography, Water, Winter15 Comments
White water
White water

I kept dreaming about waterfalls. All night. Tumultuous white water splashing over boulders.  Surges of deep sweeping forces drawn over precipices.

Now you need to understand that for years I had a phobia for waterfalls. Strange, I know, when there are so many other options available for things to be irrationally afraid of –spiders, heights, speaking in front of crowds, public toilets, goats, turning left…

In the dark years I had many nightmares about waterfalls and about falling in and being pulled over the edge. I knew even then that waterfalls represented feeling out of control emotionally. In real life I avoided them.

Lundbreck Falls, Winter
Lundbreck Falls, Winter

I met a woman who had fallen over Athabaska Falls as a child and survived. She told me how she decided to face a life-long fear of the falls and revisit them. After considerable therapy, she stood trembling near the edge. Just then a child came running by and tripped right in front of her. She lunged forward and grabbed his leg as he was about to go over the edge. What are the odds? (It was actually a very healing experience for her.)

As I regained health the phobia lessened to the point where I could go to a waterfall and take photos –usually from the bottom, but eventually from the top. So the dreams about waterfalls surprised me.

In the dream I asked, “What is this?”

The answer came back, “Peace like a river.”

I woke up.

“Oh no, no, no. Peace like a river is a calm blue sky river with no ripples but the ones stirred by my paddle,” I said.

Kootenay River
Kootenay River

As I asked the Lord about these images I felt Him say in my spirit, “Peace is not conditional on external circumstance. There is as much of My peace available in white water rapids as in a lazy meandering river. A waterfall is still a river. A giant cascade is still peace like a river.

Could it be there is as much peace available in the midst of emotional upheaval as there is in emotional calm? Jesus was not afraid to express emotion. He experienced righteous indignation to the point of turning tables, anguish to the point of sweating blood, and elation to the point of glowing –yet He was always the Prince of Peace. He could sleep in a boat in the midst of a wild storm because He knew who He was.

I believe now that it is possible to experience peace  even in the midst of whatever circumstance we find ourselves in. When Jesus Christ lives in us, and we in Him,  He shows us who we really are and how to live in the Peace that passes understanding.

God is good.

Walk with Me

On By Charis PsalloIn Art, Photography, Trees and forests4 Comments
Walk with Me
Walk with Me

All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness,
    for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies.

 The friendship of the Lord is for those who fear him,
    and he makes known to them his covenant [sealed promise].

(Psalm 25: 10 & 14)

Thank you, Lord!

On By Charis PsalloIn Art, Mountains, Photography, Sky3 Comments
Thank you, Lord
Thank you, Lord

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts,

since as members of one body you were called to peace.

And be thankful. 

Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly

as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom

through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit,

singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed,

do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus,

giving thanks to God the Father through him.

(Colossians 3: 15-17)

Comfort and Joy

On By Charis PsalloIn Art, Flowers, Man made, Photography14 Comments

quilt oil ch

Remember Your word to Your servant;
You have given me hope through it.
 This is my comfort in my affliction:
Your promise has given me life.

(Psalm 119:49, 50)

I’ve received a lot of God’s comfort and joy and faithfulness in the last two months.

On Monday I had minor surgery to biopsy something that ought not to be there. The early doctors’ consultations were not at all good. Because the specialist was out of the country the wait was much longer than I would have liked, but it was exactly the length the Lord planned. That’s how long it took for me to stop listening to the fears and start listening to the promises He has given me. It will still take ten days for the final report, but the surgeon found something fix-able and said these kind were nearly always benign. For that I praise God and am extremely grateful, but more I thank him for his comfort in the night and his assurance that he would never let me go.

I love you, Lord.

Clothed with Joy

On By Charis PsalloIn Art, Flowers9 Comments
Clothed with Joy
Clothed with Joy

You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing.
    You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy,
 that I might sing praises to you and not be silent.
    O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever!

(Psalm 30:11,12)

I’ve decided to break with tradition. I’m not going on a fast for lent. I’m going on a feast -a joy feast.

A positivity banquet.

A favour party.

At the table spread for me in the presence of my enemies.

In the valley.

That’s where the battle is fought -and won.

Each Mountain Shadow, Each Stone on the Beach

On By Charis PsalloIn Art, Mountains, Uncategorized4 Comments
Each Mountain Shadow
Each Mountain Shadow
Each Stone on the Beach
Each Stone on the Beach

 

We are here to witness the creation and abet it. We are here to notice each thing so each thing gets noticed. Together we notice not only each mountain shadow and each stone on the beach but, especially, we notice the beautiful faces and complex natures of each other. We are here to bring to consciousness the beauty and power that are around us and to praise the people who are here with us. We witness our generation and our times. We watch the weather. Otherwise, creation would be playing to an empty house.

-Annie Dillard

Peace and Fixed Thoughts

On By Charis PsalloIn Art2 Comments
Fixed
Fixed

You will keep in perfect peace
    all who trust in you,
    all whose thoughts are fixed on you!
 Trust in the Lord always,
    for the Lord God is the eternal Rock.

(Isaiah 26:3,4)

 

Benefits

On By Charis PsalloIn Art, FlowersLeave a comment
Bless the Lord
Bless the Lord

O my soul, bless God.
    From head to toe, I’ll bless his holy name!
O my soul, bless God,
    don’t forget a single blessing!

 He forgives your sins—every one.
    He heals your diseases—every one.
    He redeems you from hell—saves your life!
    He crowns you with love and mercy—a paradise crown.
    He wraps you in goodness—beauty eternal.
    He renews your youth—you’re always young in his presence.

 God makes everything come out right;
    he puts victims back on their feet.
He showed Moses how he went about his work,
    opened up his plans to all Israel.
God is sheer mercy and grace;
    not easily angered, he’s rich in love.
He doesn’t endlessly nag and scold,
    nor hold grudges forever.
He doesn’t treat us as our sins deserve,
    nor pay us back in full for our wrongs.
As high as heaven is over the earth,
    so strong is his love to those who fear him.
And as far as sunrise is from sunset,
    he has separated us from our sins.
As parents feel for their children,
    God feels for those who fear him.
He knows us inside and out,
    keeps in mind that we’re made of mud.
Men and women don’t live very long;
    like wildflowers they spring up and blossom,
But a storm snuffs them out just as quickly,
    leaving nothing to show they were here.
God’s love, though, is ever and always,
    eternally present to all who fear him,
Making everything right for them and their children
    as they follow his Covenant ways
    and remember to do whatever he said.

 God has set his throne in heaven;
    he rules over us all. He’s the King!
So bless God, you angels,
    ready and able to fly at his bidding,
    quick to hear and do what he says.
Bless God, all you armies of angels,
    alert to respond to whatever he wills.
Bless God, all creatures, wherever you are—
    everything and everyone made by God.

And you, O my soul, bless God!

(Psalm 103 The Message paraphrase)