la paz

I’d like to finish up this chapter of life with a hymn.  My church sang this soon before I left Puerto Rico, and it had new meaning for me.

Himno 123

Paz, paz, cuán dulce paz

En el seno de mi alma una dulce quietud

Se difunde inundando mi ser,

Una calma infinita que sólo podrán

Los amados de Dios comprender.

Coro:

¡Paz!, ¡paz!, ¡cuán dulce paz!

Es aquella que el Padre me da;

Yo le ruego que inunde por siempre mi ser,

En sus ondas de amor celestial.

Qué tesoro yo tengo en la paz que me dio,

Y en el fondo del alma ha de estar

Tan segura que nadie quitarla podrá

Mientras miro los años pasar.

Sin cesar yo medito en aquella ciudad

Do al Autor de la paz he de ver,

Y en que el himno más dulce que habré de cantar

De Su paz nada más ha de ser.

Alma triste que en rudo conflicto te ves,

Sola y débil tu senda al seguir,

Haz de Cristo tu amigo, pues fiel siempre es,

¡Y Su paz tú podrás recibir!

Here’s a rough translation:

Peace, peace, what sweet peace

In the depths of my soul a sweet stillness

Floods my being

An infinite calm that only

Those loved by God can understand

Chorus:

Peace, peace, what sweet peace!

Is that which my Father gives me;

And I plea that it floods my being forever

In the waves of heavenly love

What treasure I have in the peace that He gave me,

In the depths of my soul

So secure that no one can take it

While I watch the years pass.

Without ceasing I meditate on that city

The Author of Peace I have seen,

The sweetest hymn I shall have to sing

Of His peace nothing more has there been

Sad soul that in severe conflict you see,

Alone and weak your path to follow,

Make Christ your friend, since he is always faithful,

And His peace to you can receive!

I’ve had a bit of a bumpy transition so far, but I’m hoping it will smooth out soon.  Even though I still don’t have a job for September, I’m feeling God’s peace through it all.  I feel like God has been leaving me a breadcrumb trail of little encouraging moments and actions that are leading up to the big next thing. 

I’ll close with a prayer for all my faithful readers:

Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all.   

2 Thessalonians 3:16

Amen