Complete Inner Peace and the Future

I've been having a lot of stress dreams lately. If it's not work, it's the future, or possible options for the present. There has been a lot up in the air lately, and my work project schedule has been tight for 2 months now.

Which means that yesterday, I yelled at my dog, my husband, then I had a nervous breakdown over a lack of milk for a latte. Yeah. I'm going a little crazy.

After apologizing (to my dog, my husband, God, and the world at large), I decided that I need to make a concerted effort to find some inner peace so that these outside stressors do

n't turn me into a insane person.

What I needed that milk in my latte for, though,was to wake me up enough to get to Jake's professor's farm for student day. What a complete blessing from God. My cell phone battery died right as we reached the beautiful farm of Dr. Black and his wife, Becky. After a potluck lunch with about 30 students and spouses, we were walking through the "ripple pasture", and the amazing blue sky was looking down on the wind-blown grass, I told Jake, "whenever I'm stressed, I'm going to try to get right back here."

And after most of the students left, they asked us to stay to talk about some of our future plans. What wise and gracious people. I hope one day, Jake and I will be like that. I was able to share my concerns and fears and doubts. Dr. Black spent time trying to help me to be open to where God might be leading and why he believed that one path would be better than another for Jake. But at the same time, he really listened to why I was afraid and what I was holding on to. Becky gave me so much practical advice and actually made some things sound a little more scary. But at least, I have an idea of what I'm up against. In the end, I think her experiences will be the things that keep me sane if we go that direction. (picture from Dr. Black's blog)

Another thing I noticed and appreciated.... they both used our names when talking to us. Not in a "I'm trying to get your attention" kind of way. But how often to we talk to people without really thinking about who we are talking to. It made me feel... valued. Listened to.

When it was time to leave, Dr. Black prayed for us both. I was really struck by how he clearly grasped the situation we were in, the difficult decisions that had to be made, and made it very clear that he and Becky didn't have a right or wrong answer for us, and prayed that God show us what was the right direction.

I left refreshed, excited, and hopeful. And whether we follow their path or another one, I hope one day to show to others the wisdom and kindness and hospitality that they showed us. And I am so thankful that God has given us so many people in our lives to pour their wisdom into us, and how He always has the most impeccable timing.