Simplicity and Peace

“Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world.” 
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭46:10 NLT

Are you always busy or in a hurry? A lot of us are constantly involved in something. We live in a fast paced society.  I remember my 2006 short term mission trip to Haiti. For two weeks I stayed in the city of Jeremie. Jeremie is located in the western sector of the country. I distinctly remember my initial realization that this wasn't pictures on T.V. The people there are very poor. The average Haitian makes about $400.00 to $500.00 a year. Gasoline is much more expensive there than it is here. The government is corrupt and the power grid is intermittent. In spite of this, the children wear uniforms to school and they are much better behaved than children here in the United States. I remember going into downtown Jeremie for lunch one day while we were working on a building project at a local orphanage. Right beside the "restaurant" (like no restaurant we see - believe me) was a school. The kindergarten class was outside on the porch, right beside the Main Street. Not one child ran into the street or got out of hand. Although these people were very impoverished, they possessed a different way of life than us "civilized", "advanced" Americans. There was no rush in there daily affairs and they walked for miles to carry water. This was commonplace for the culture.  When I attended worship service on Sundays, the people were very respectful and well mannered. Their vocal praise was inspiring. I had the opportunity to speak and sing at their services. What a joy it was to say a line or phrase and wait for our interpreter to speak the native language of the same. The Haitians speak Creole, a French derivative. As I sang "How Great Thou Art" at a church in the bush (out in the country up on a mountainside), the believers there sang the same song in the Creole language. I felt like I was in heaven with the kindred tribes, tongues, and nations worshiping our Lord together.  The church was a structure of wood that was leaning downhill, braced on the leaning side so as to keep it from falling over. The floor was dirt and the seats were wooden, yet the worship was powerful. There were no spoiled parishioners bartering for their seat, complaining about the air conditioning, or wanting to be entertained. Just simple, poor, yet "rich" saints who loved Jesus. No one was in a hurry. Everyone was there for the purpose of worship and to enjoy the fellowship of one another.  When our mornings began for each workday,  we waited at the compound, where we stayed,  to be taxied to the orphanage in an orphanage vehicle. The exact time of pick up was never known, you just had to be ready at the right time and wait for your ride to show up when they decided to get there. The lifestyle was so reverse to our own. Although it was a bit unorganized, the stress was absent. I thought to myself, "if only we could learn how to live each day with the carefree spirit of these people". I'm not suggesting disorganization or chaos, but simplicity and peace.  Sometimes we need to slow down, even stop, and be still!! Acknowledge God and His faithful care today. Let His presence soak in like a sponge. Bask in His beauty. Saturate yourself in the Savior. Instead of "Calgon, take me away" you will be saying "Jesus, hold me in Your bosom"!  Come away from the fray of life's relentless pull and find rest in Jesus today! Be still and know that He is God!!!