Perfect Peace

Parthenon Valley in Newton County

Every good and perfect gift is from above,

coming down from the Father of heavenly lights,

who does not change like shifting shadows. 1 James 1:17

Perfect: exact, precise, true, flawless, complete, absolute, impeccable, ideal, unblemished, faithful, right as rain...

"It was a perfect weekend." I found myself discussing our weekend with Jack after a visit from my brother and his wife. Distance, health, work, and other circumstances make these visits all too rare, and I was wanting everything to be perfect. It was--all of us hanging out on the porch, no real time table--just relaxing, watching the birds, butterflies, feeling the wind blow gently across the mountain-- it seemed the leaves changed colors as we watched.

Being a practical person, I rarely describe something as "perfect". But, maybe, one doesn't have to be a "perfectionist" to use the word to describe something, someone, someplace, a time, etc. I am beginning to look at this word differently. Not a word to throw around carelessly, but one to use for certain times and places in our life.

The word took on more significance after I read the cabin journals from our latest guests. As they recorded their thoughts, the word "perfect" was used frequently to describe their days at Mountain Springs. I now believe "perfect" is a feeling. A feeling of joy, delight, happiness--fleeting, but memorable. A souvenir to take home in one's mind to pull out when things aren't going so very "perfect" at the moment.

Here are their journal entries exactly as they wrote them. (It seems a perfect time to get in a little cabin commercial! :-)

Deer Pond Cabin--

"We love it here! We had the most perfect day ever! Perfect weather, awesome hiking! Ate a fantastic dinner in Jasper, then later saw 3 falling stars from the deck! Oh, of course, the elk. How gorgeous! This cabin is perfect too--it lacked nothing--very homey." Keith, Kim, Scott, Missouri

Eagle's Rest Cabin--

"Wow! Can't say enough about how wonderful our stay here has been. Thank you! Thank you for everything--your hospitality, helpful hints about activities, and absolutely perfect cabin. We will be recommending Mountain Springs Cabins to everyone who will listen. We really needed this vacation and you made it perfect! God Bless you both." The Jacksons from Ft. Worth

I might add, we considered them the perfect cabin guests!!

Enough perfection!

However, in these days when very little seems perfect or right, focus on He who is perfect.

You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!

Isaiah 26:3

(Don't stop with this verse --read the whole 26th chapter of Isaiah!)