It was Sunday morning May 24th, 2020 and we were taking part in “Virtual Church” on our 70th Day of “Sheltering in Place”. This week everything was getting to me and somehow I could not settle to do much. We had listened to the sermon and our Pastor asked us to be silent and just listen to God. All was quiet and a special stillness filed our room. As I listened it was almost as if I heard that still small voice saying. “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.” That verse from John 14-17 continues “I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” These were the words Jesus said foretelling His ascension. About two minutes after that the cell phone pinged – it was a picture that my sister in law had taken of her husband fishing at the lake on their farm in Scotland. Peace ! I had not realized that it was Ascension Sunday. Although Ascension Day was actually Thursday – 40 days after Jesus’s resurrection – it is recognized on the following Sunday. This started my Reflections on this word and it took me to many places and incidents in my life, especially in Scotland . Hence my title “Peace and Reflections.”

“Best of all is to preserve everything in a pure, still heart, and let there be for every pulse a thanksgiving, and for every breath a song.”
Konrad von Gesner

The picture sent to me by my sister in law Christina made me think of the times we spent at the farm with her and her husband Denis but also as I looked at the water, and sensed the stillness it took me back to a truly memorable afternoon on June 29th, 2011. It was two years since our son Kenneth had died of Mesothelioma on March 1st, 2009 and our family decided that it was time to go to Scotland for a family holiday. I also wanted to introduce Kenneth’s wife Sheila to some of our relatives. Kenneth was married to Sheila in the hospital before he died. She was the light of his life and he wanted her “to be part of our family.” We all arrived in Scotland at different times – our other two sons Andrew and girlfriend Melissa (soon to be wife) Stuart and 4 year old granddaughter Isabella, and Sheila. The day that we all met and went to Loch Lee turned out to be a glorious day as we walked a mile from the car park down a long dirt road lined with hedges and hills. The sun was shining and it was actually warm – a miracle in itself. This was a walk that my dad had taken my sister and I on many years previous and I was missing him as he had died only nine months before Kenneth. The sound of laughter brought me back as little Isabella was being chased by her daddy. Dressed in pink and sporting pink “wellie” boots and carrying a pink fishing net she was ready to get to the Loch. As we rounded the bend there was Loch Lee surrounded by hills and all that was to be heard was the hum of bees and an occasional bird call. We all sat on the stones and chatted. The boys had competitions skimming stones on the mirror like water and we all watched the ripples going out in ever widening circles. Isabella had a lovely time “fishing” with her daddy, laughing and giggling, and I do not think that she cared that she did not catch anything. I watched Andrew and Melissa and felt very happy. It was beginning to get time for us to leave for our drive back to have dinner when a lady came walking by on the road around the lake. We said hello and she looked surprised as she looked at Loch Lee. “I have lived here and walked around the Loch for years and I have never seen it so still!” After she left we got our things together as we had been there about an hour and started walking up the path away from the Loch. I turned to have one last look and lo and behold the Loch was full of movement and ripples and I remembered what the lady said. Melissa looked at me and smiled. That was a gift of stillness and Love that we had been given.

Be still and know that I am God
Be still my soul when dearest friends depart
And all is darkened in the vale of tears
Then shalt thou better know His love His heart
Who comes to soothe thy sorrow and thy fears
Be still my soul the waves and winds shall know
His voice who ruled them while He dwelt below
From the song Be Still My Soul
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music
PS Dad’s name was William Warner.

Now I move on to last summer 2019. As I look back in the midst of what we are going through just now I feel so blessed to have been in Scotland for another family visit. Last July we had the pleasure of having Isabella back with us and also her brother Connor. Being able to spend time together and just have fun was such a joy. Did we go to some expensive theme park, did we spend hundreds of dollars going out for dinner or to big shows – no. What we did do was make memories, visiting a castle, petting a duck, taking time to talk, enjoying flowers and thistles, laughing at jokes, climbing trees, eating freshly picked strawberries and sharing love. 

In this time of COVID-19 we have spend much time inside and on our own. There has been much stillness but I hope that we have not wasted it. I hope that we have taken time to look back and count our blessings. To give thanks and reflect on the little things in life that we remember and which give us pleasure. May we look forward to a future when we do not overload our lives with noise and clutter and as Mary Queen of Scots said in one of her prayers “Oh Lord let us not forget to be kind.”