Peace of Mind

He put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is larger than all the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.” (Matthew 13:31-32 ESV).

Just a few days ago I was texting with my dear friend from Tennessee, Billy Potts. That is not an uncommon thing at all. We have stayed in touch and visited in his home several times since we moved back to Texas. He and his wife Brenda are just two of the many gracious folks we came to know while serving at Santa Fe Baptist Church. Our conversation revolved around recent events in our lives and theirs. It was a welcome “check-up.” As is always the case, he asked when we might be coming that way again. I said, “Soon… I hope!” Mary and I always combine the trip to see friends there with a few days in the Smoky Mountains. And, each time we visit the mountains we also spend part of a day enjoying the beauty of Cade’s Cove. We aren’t able to take the trails like we once did, but we certainly enjoying the ride through the area and short walks. Even with the many visitors to the park there’s always a quiet place to simply stop and recapture peace of mind. If ever there were a time when we need to do that, it is now. I’ve been more serious than you might think when I’ve remarked that it would have been fine to have skipped the first six months of 2020! My oldest brother died, Mary’s emergency surgery, and Covid-19 back-to-back did not help create that peace. Of course, we know that the world we live in has many good things and amazing blessings, but there is no shortage of hardship and brokenness. We can find and cultivate all kinds of good food, but we have to work hard for it. We can enjoy good health, but we can also get sick, and even die. Nature can be breathtakingly beautiful, but it can also be viciously cruel. In Jesus’ parable about the wheat and the weeds, we can see the corruption and brokenness of life in this world. And because there is still much good amid the damaging effects of sin and evil, he is willing to wait for the time of harvest. In the meantime, though, the kingdom of God will grow in surprising ways, like the huge plant that grows from a tiny mustard seed as described in our reading today. The key to finding peace of mind is within our reach. It takes place when we are able to still our mind and experience the presence of God. It requires silencing the noise of this world to hear His voice. I pray you will find that peace and rest of the kingdom of God today.