Tumult and Shalom

August 05, 2004

We all have good days and bad days. The other day we came across a beautiful, serene valley high in the mountains of northern New Mexico. It’s know as Valles Caldera. It is a broad expanse of 179 square miles of wilderness and open space, 15 miles across and the scene of vast natural beauty.

Two volcanic eruption 1.6 and 1.2 million years ago spewed lava, smoke and ash from the site over thousands of miles. It was a prehistoric Mount St. Helena, a caldron of tumult. Even the bubbling up after left broad wide peaks in the valley.

The Bible advocates a peace that the Lord will bestow. One could not find a more peaceful site than the Valles Caldera today. But the same site was the subject of a bad millennium a million years or so ago.

Philippians 4:7 reads: “The peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Its wonderful to come across a Valles Caldrea and view God’s wonder. It’s another to combine that with the Lord’s peace in one’s heart, with His Shalom.

( For a look at Valles Caldera go to http://www.vallescaldera.gov.)