Above the noise is where the bustle stills, My focus turns from the valleys to the hills
To where the troubles of my soul subside, I find myself where love and peace reside
These are just the first few lines of some verses ( I refrain from calling it a poem!) that I wrote on my way home from a planning meeting for RIVER CAMP 2017.
We had been discussing the theme for the upcoming event and had settled on those three simple words ABOVE THE NOISE. As I was driving home that day my mind was drawn to my own experience of finding a place where I could regather and refocus on what is really important in my life.
Have you ever noticed that THERE CAN BE SO MUCH NOISE EVEN IN THE SILENCE. I have found in my own life that noise is not always audible. It can be anything, good or bad, that draws my attention and upon which I fix my focus.
By the time I arrived home I had the words ready to put pen to paper. As you read on give some thought to how you deal with the “noise” in your life. Do I have a place, either physically or mentally, where I can still my anxiety and find peace?
Above the noise is where the bustle stills
My focus turns from the valleys to the hills
To where the troubles of my soul subside
I find myself where love and peace reside
It’s there I see my Saviour face to face
Secure, at rest, at peace in His embrace
His eyes, His smile, His beating heart
Above the noise and set apart
His voice now clear, no clammering din
My hopes … my dreams make sense within
My gaze , now fixed, I find the joys
When I take time … above the noise
Above the noise is where I rest my soul
Above the noise is where He makes me whole
Above the noise my vision clearly sees
Above the noise, it’s Him I seek to please
Above the noise …
Geoff Blease – 30.06.2017
We are living in such NOISY TIMES. So much clammering for our attention. The economy at home, the wars, the famines, the floods further afield.
PEACE IS NOT ESCAPISM but a reality even in the midst of trials and tumult. As I reflect over my 78 years of a very varied, and sometimes tumultuous life, I give thanks to God that He opened my eyes to His love and salvation at the age of 34. The “peace” that I express in my verses is not some utopian dream, but is based upon my own experience of living in the reality of a personal relationship with Jesus. I am always encouraged when I focus on some Bible verses in chapter 4 of the Book of Philippians where the apostle Paul is writing to the church in Philippi.
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.
Philippians 4: 6-9
As an engineer, and someone who likes to be able to “fix it” I found the phrase “peace which exceeds anything we can understand” to be quite a challenge. That is until I began to fully understand that my peace was not so much limited to the “what” of my life, but rather the “Who” I had committed my life unto. His name is Jesus and He saves to the uttermost. He is the Alpha and Omgea, the beginning and the end, (and of course everything in between!)
May you indeed find the peace which exceeds anything you can understand. and be blessed to be a blessing.
Geoff
