Shannon R. Brown

Do you ever find yourself in need of quiet and relaxation? In this busy world it seems to be harder and harder to find. Thankfully I’m currently porch sitting on the shores of Lake Chelan in Eastern Washington. It’s truly one of the most peaceful places I’ve ever been. Even with the resort activities around me, I breathe deeper here. It’s a place of respite – something I’m desperately in need of at the moment. Why? Let me explain.

The husband and I are about to embark on a new, life changing adventure. I’ll share about it here soon, but in the meantime I’m going to do my best to embrace the peace and tranquility I’m surrounded with and let go of the stress. That’s much easier said than done, but it’s definitely what I need at the moment.

To prove God has a wicked sense of humor at times, He placed this time of respite squarely in the middle of our major life transition. Do I have a million things to take care of at home? Yes. Am I faced with new demands and situations that I have to navigate? Yes. Can I do anything about them where I am? Pretty much no. Ha! 

At first, I was pretty frustrated with the timing of everything going on. We expected much of the change to happen before we left on vacation. Instead, we made the decision to upend our life and then left on a two week trip with the husband’s parents. It seemed like horrible timing – and if I’m honest I’m still having difficulty accepting the timing – but as the weeks have progressed, especially this one on the lake, I’ve begun to understand it is just what I needed.

Have I avoided thinking about all the things awaiting our return home? No. Have I quit stressing about it all? Also, no. Have I gained some perspective on the whole situation as I’ve embraced the peace I find here? Yes. I know they say distance makes the heart grow fonder, but I’m beginning to think it can also make the worries of my impending change less daunting. There are still a ton of details waiting in the wings, but I’m much more confident in my ability to handle them since I’ve had this time of rest. And as a result, I think we’re making better decisions about how to proceed. Amazing what a little perspective can provide.

Will I freak out when I get home? Probably. Will I melt down like I would have had we stayed at home now? I don’t think so. I’m planning to soak up all this peace, add it to the peace the good Lord’s given me about our new adventure, and call on it when I’m in the thick of the weedy details. 

I may still require copious amounts of prayer, Kleenex, and wine, to get through it all but I know I will get through it all. And in the end, I’ll be better for it.

So next time you’re facing a massive challenge I’d encourage you to find a little respite. Soak it up, then put on your big girl pants and charge on! 

How do you deal with stress? Where do you find peace? Tell us about it in the comments. And please don’t forget to like, share and subscribe! Thanks!!