GOSPEL GRACE Chasing Butterflies Journal B Y C O N N I E VA N H O R N “BUILT-IN COURAGE”
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would walk past her home on my evening walks. Her window blinds were always open, and the lighting was bright and beaming with tranquility. There were no televisions in this home, and the peacefulness of her environment called out to me like a voice in the wind as constant noise filled my own life, piercing me like a sharp knife. She had a beautiful and contagious smile, and I could always find her on the porch reading a book. One day, I was sitting at the end of my driveway watching my children play. She approached me, and we enjoyed casual small talk. She handed me a pocket-sized book, Jesus Calling. I had never heard of this book, and she gave no explanation for this small gift. Her attire most days was a long skirt, a tucked-in white blouse, golden blond hair in a bun, and a white bonnet. It was spring 2013; I had never seen a woman dress this way. She was an image from an old Amish movie. She was married to a young man who was completing his medical residency, and they shared two young daughters. She walked confidently and never blinked at the stares she received from around our community. Her name was Chere. It was the first time in my life that I was in awe of the inner peace someone projected. I wanted what Chere had. I wanted the peace in her home and the joy in her heart. I wanted to have her confidence.
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. (John 14:27 NIV) My life at this point was at its lowest place. Little did I know it was about to get worse. The almost unbearable storm I was enduring was about to collide with another. It’s a good thing we can’t see tomorrow. I would have run for the hills. Instead, I blindly walked right into the eye of this storm. It was like one very intense hurricane dancing around with another as the two storms collided. Still, the eye of the hurricane is calm. We can look at our lives that way when things get hard. Even though there is complete chaos around us, we can have a sense of peace in the center of it all. God was right there with me in the middle of that storm. I didn’t know it at the time, but He was definitely there.
Even though there is complete chaos around us, we can have a sense of peace in the center of it all. God was right there with me in the middle of that storm.
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