Daily Jewel

by Pastor J.T. Carnell, McAlester, OK


“Raging-River Peace”
“Wisdom’s ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace." – Proverbs 3:17 (NIV)
Growing up in Colorado I spent a good deal of my life driving in and spending time in the mountains. One of my most favorite activities was to go fishing in the mountains or often simply walking along the side of a mountain creek or stream. One of the first things you realize regarding a mountain stream or river is there is nothing calm about them. What I mean by that is that the water is always moving – and usually moving quickly! And the larger the creek or stream becomes the louder it gets! You can often hear the river without actually seeing it. Maybe that is the attraction – Despite the quick and relentless pace of the water – there is also something quite peaceful about it. There is a mystic attraction that draws a person in – mesmerizing them into a state of absolute calm. I compare life as that which is much like walking along a mountain stream. It starts innocent enough but the further downstream you go the more that stream becomes a raging river. Now that river may not seem like much at the time but the further and longer it goes the wider and more dangerous it becomes. It is said that the Mighty Mississippi River, which begins in Minnesota is nothing more than a stream that a person can easily jump across at its beginning – but by the time it reaches Missouri and Illinois and points further south it is four to five hundred yards wide. In Memphis, the Mississippi river is nearly half-a-mile wide. And though it appears to be moving slowly, the undercurrent is strong and powerful. The reason why I can be at peace with the raging waters around me is this – I don’t have to get into the water to enjoy it! A creek is nothing more than just a trickle, maybe a foot deep but the further downstream, much like the Mississippi, it becomes faster and deeper and if I get caught in the water at that point I can easily get swept in the current and thrown against the rocks. But as long as I stay on the paths or roads next to the rivers I remain safe. Wisdom tells me that I don’t have to be in the river to enjoy the river. I don’t have to experience everything that life has to offer just to enjoy the life I’ve been given. In fact, I can honestly say that I truly enjoy life as it is! As it was meant to be for me. Walking with Christ along the paths He has provided. Walking in peace and safety. I hope that is the peace that you are experiencing right now. I hope that as you walk next to the streams of this life – just enjoy the walk. Just be careful getting into the water.
Pastor J. T. Carnell