by Pastor Linda Skinner

“You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!” Isaiah 26:3

Peace in the midst of chaos is the theme of Pastor Rey’s message this Sunday at 10:30 am Online Worship.

Growing up on a farm I learned so many lessons. (Someday I’m going to write a book, “Lessons I Learned on the Chicken Ranch.”) One of the lessons that has served me well throughout my life is to focus on the things I can impact, and not on the things I have no ability to change or influence. When you farm, you learn that you can do your best to care for your livestock or crops but there are some things you cannot change – e.g. weather, disease, predators, etc. You can adjust to mitigate your losses, but that’s the best you can do.

As a little girl, I remember when a huge heat wave hit our area of Northern California. It was unexpected and temperatures were well over 100 for several days in a row, and it was not cooling off much at night. My dad had about 2,000 laying hens that he cared for (chickens do not do well in high heat). We didn’t have the luxury of climate control in our barns, and the chickens got so hot that they were literally dying. I remember my dad and mom and every able-bodied person we knew started pulling chickens out of the barn and laying them on the cool grass and my dad with a hose sprinkling them with cool water. He lost some, but his quick thinking and action saved most of them. I can still see the picture in my head of that grass field covered with white chickens laying in the grass enjoying the cold water being sprinkled on them.

I remember my Mom saying to me many times, “We just do our best, and trust in God for everything else.” I’m so glad that at an early age I have those lessons to look back on. Learning to trust God, and do the best we can with what we have; and the situation we are in, is a great way to find the peace that passes all understanding.

Join us this Sunday for online worship at 10:30 am on Facebook Live, YouTube Live, Washington Cathedral website or App. You’ll be glad you took the time to learn more about living a life filled with God’s peace.

Blessings,

Pastor Linda Skinner