Peace of Mind: Three Treasures From a Mid-Winter Break

A mid-winter break works wonders for peace of mind.

This year, mine was the Grand Canyon with my son, Jack.

I found three treasures for peace of mind.

Peace of Mind Treasure #1: The Greatness

“You’ve never seen the Grand Canyon dad?” said Jack earlier in 2022.

“No, but I’d like to!”

“Well lets go the day after Christmas! The weather is nice and it’s not too crowded. Let’s go!”

We flew to Flagstaff on Dec. 26. Stayed in Sedona. Drove to the Canyon the next day. Looked at it with a short walk along the South Rim. Had lunch. Drove back to Sedona. Next day, back to Dallas.

We experienced the Greatness.

The jagged edges with all its crevices hide so many secrets in the Canyon.

Many are seen and observed by science. Many are not.

The immensity of rocks, trees and colors are nothing but a point in comparison to the sun which is only a fine point in comparison to the stars circling the cosmos.

The Grand Canyon is another testimony in the natural world to God because of the sheer size of it all.

Psalm 19:1–6

       The heavens declare the glory of God; 
         the skies proclaim the work of his hands. 
       Day after day they pour forth speech; 
         night after night they reveal knowledge. 
       They have no speech, they use no words; 
         no sound is heard from them. 
       Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, 
         their words to the ends of the world. 
         In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun. 
               It is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, 
         like a champion rejoicing to run his course. 
      It rises at one end of the heavens 
         and makes its circuit to the other; 
         nothing is deprived of its warmth.

Peace of mind is confidence that your life rests in the care of the One responsible for the Greatness.

Treasure #2: The Oneness

Seeing the Oneness behind everything is easy at the Grand Canyon because it frames all of the opposing and cooperating forces of life and energy in one scene.

In fact, three things are required for life on earth.

• energy (light or chemical form)
• nutrients (replenished by weather)
• water (between 59 and 239 degrees Fahrenheit)

How is it that the earth holds these just right?

The answer, I believe, is the Oneness.

Blending all of the forces of energy, nutrients and water for life can only be done by One.

Isn’t it amazing how conditions on the earth are perfect?

That’s why folks who don’t buy the theory that life evolves out of nothing see the Oneness.

“The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else.” Acts 17:24-25

Treasure #3: The Wisdom

Before energy, nutrients and water, there was the Wisdom.

“At the highest point along the way, where the paths meet, she (wisdom) takes her stand; ‘To you, O people, I call out; I raise my voice to all mankind. The LORD brought me forth as the first of his works, before his deeds of old; I was formed long ages ago, at the very beginning, when the world came to be.'” Proverbs 8 selected verses

What is your favorite winter retreat?