Tues April 23 Sea of Galilee

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. — Philippians 4:7 (NIV)

All day long, the concept of peace kept coming to mind.  

We've been over a week in cities, bustling towns, not peaceful places really. For their energy. And for their political tension. And financial (think Athens.)

We've been in opulent hotels, seen the creme de la creme of architecture (the Parthenon). But you wouldn't use the word 'peace' in describing any of them really. 

Then we come to the Sea of Galilee. Peace. First you are perched on an 11 mile long lake, blue, blue-green, blue-green-gray water. Surrounded by hills (Israel calls them mountains.) With wrinkles down their faces eroded by springs and streams feeding the Sea of Galilee. 

I wish I could capture the colors. The contrast of this shoreline's serene, green/blue, expansive to the towns' congested, frenetic, grey/beige. 

Add to this songs and music. At each holy site, and in between, small groups gathering in song, reading the bible, celebrating communion... all in different languages. Not obnoxious at all. Very pleasant. Respectful. A gathering of God's people. Joy. Hearts lifted up. Love it. Love being here.

Birds. Everywhere. Storks, egrets, sparrows, sea gulls.

Started today's ride this morning seeing a bird of prey soaring powerfully in front of a cliff. "And you will mount up with wings like eagles'." Isaiah. With that hope in your pocket, how can you spend even a moment without peace?

The moment that stands out most of the day was at the Church of St. Peter. Mike and I walked to the shoreline. A rocky beach, with trees growing next to the water. Not all along, just dotting the shoreline. 

We read John 21 where Peter and a few other disciples are 2 football fields out from the shore, in their boat, after an entire night of fishing but not catching any. Jesus, the resurrected Jesus, is sitting on the shore. Like Mike and I did. He calls to them to drop the nets to the right, they do, they catch fish. Peter recognizes that it is Jesus, jumps into the water and comes to Him. 

Don't you wish that would have been you? Even now. You know Jesus' voice, you drop everything to come when He calls. To be near Him one more moment. 

Jesus asks Peter, Do you love me, three times. To come full circle from the three denials. Peter and Jesus. Just Peter and Jesus. 

Peace. 

Then the others come, they eat. They talk. Right there on the beach. If not where we were, then nearby. 

Peace from Jesus. And also, peaceful spot on the shore. Expansive lake, colors dreamy, gentle breeze, fresh air, opening up to hills on either side. Probably these birds flying by once in a while. 

Safety, security is so precious. It's His peace that will guard us. 

Can you have peace in the middle of a bustling city? In the middle of 8 hours of back-to-back appointments? Yes. But, if even Jesus had to get away to the hills, or walk along the shore away from the people once in awhile to 'be still and know that I am God,' Psalm 46, then what makes me think I don't need to. 

I could stay here. I see why people were drawn to these shores. Via Maris went right by this NW coast of Sea of Galilee, the Roman road from Damascus to Cairo. I can see travelers coming down to the shore, listening to what was said. Taking in the peace. The Peace. 

Mike said, at the spot on the shoreline at the Church of St Peter, you have the sense of a refuge. Peace and safely. Peace and well-being. 

I could stay here.