My Window Washer
My kids like to wash my windows.
I know. Pinch me. It’s glorious. And, no, I don’t rent them out.
One time, when my son (4) was washing the window he spent a good 5 minutes trying to get one spot clean.
Now you have to understand that in 4 year old time, 5 minutes is like… 3,018 YEARS.
He was determined to clean that one spot, but he was going about it all wrong. You see, he was cleaning the wrong side of the window.
The spot was on the inside. He was on the outside.
Did I Draw The Short Straw?
When I saw the writing assignments for the HelloMornings Bible Study posts, I thought, “Well, I drew the short straw!” (I’m so spiritual, I know… Pray for me.)
But really? I was assigned to write about the greeting and salutation of the book of 1 Peter. The greeting and salutation?
All I could think about was that “salutation” was one of the words that the spider spelled in Charlotte’s Web.
Clearly, you may need to prepare yourself for the depth of my Biblical commentary.
Getting To The Good Stuff
But, of course, in the end I was amazed as how much truth was contained in something so simple. In fact, the part that struck me the most was merely one line of text in the first verse.
“To God’s elect, exiles scattered throughout the provinces…” 1 Peter 1:1
It’s like jumbo shrimp or stay-at-home mom – an oxymoron.
God’s elect? ….exiles…scattered…?
That doesn’t sound very “elect” to me, or at least not something I want to be elected to.
But then I remembered that the American Dream and God’s Dream are two very different things. He doesn’t want us to find our peace and security in our Norman Rockwell, white picket fence, instagram worthy, suburban homes.
He wants us to make our home in Him. He wants us to be unshakably secure, regardless of our situation, in His companionship and provision.
He wants us to surrender our pursuit of plastic pearls for His real ones.
Verse 13 goes on to say, “Peace to all of you who are in Christ.”
Where Peace Is Found
So wait…peace isn’t found in my perfectly organized home? Or in finally getting on top of the bills? Or in knowing exactly how to respond to my children? Or that “one thing” finally changing?
No.
In fact, our physical pursuit of peace and joy are the very things that keep us from it. Like trying to wash the wrong side of a dirty window.
Peace is never found in a place, but in a Person.*
Today, my prayer for you is that you would take time to know God and all the richness He has for you. To read His word, spend time in prayer as you walk through your day and and listen for His still small voice.
I pray that you’d spend more time on the right side of the window instead of just looking through it wishing for things to be different.
“Grace and peace be yours in abundance…” 1 Peter 1:2
Were you reading along with us this week? What nugget did you glean? Click here to join the discussion.
*I’m pretty sure I heard/read Ann Voskamp say something like that so I’m just going to credit her for that lovely piece of alliteration.
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Thanks for a wonderful reminder of where peace is truly found.
I laughed. I cried. I loved your post. 🙂
I needed to read this today: “In fact, our physical pursuit of peace and joy are the very things that keep us from it.”
Thanks, Kat.
Wonderful thoughts! Love the washing the wrong side of the window – aren’t we always trying to “whitewash” our outside selves when it’s the inside that needs the cleaning?
“I pray that you’d spend more time on the right side of the window instead of just looking through it wishing for things to be different.” Amen! Great post filled with truth. Thanks so much for sharing – and for drawing the short straw. You did good!
This is wonderful. Thank you!
Thanks kat…I was really searching to get some meaning out of these scriptures too…this helped. I’m reminded of the part in finding nemo when marlin is ranting and raving at dory and she just stops him and says, “Hi. I’m Dory”. Salutations….they’re important & they stick with us. : )
[…] On Window Washing and Finding Unshakeable Peace :: Inspired to Action […]
Oh wow! So funny…it was my Mom’s MomHeart post. But Ann did link to it…which my Mom thought was so cool, she wouldn’t care who gets the credit!! It’s one of her favorite things to say, even when I was growin up. So just think about all the impact the teaching and influence you pour out to your kids has! 🙂
I am *still* coming back to that wrong-side-of-the-window image 3 days later. It’s dead on.