One of my favorite children’s songs to sing is “I’ve Got Peace Like a River.” More often than not, I do not have peace. Not even one drop. (I yell a lot.)
What might peace like a river look like?
Always flowing. Refreshing. Deep enough to swim in. Current strong enough to carry you along. Dangerous but fun. Moving, carrying, flowing.
The next verse is: joy like a fountain. What might that look like?
Bubbling, overflowing joy deeply whose source is someone or something else. Refreshing, life-giving joy that keeps coming. Fountains are places where children can play and where adults become children again.
And the final verse is: love like an ocean. What’s that?
Love that wide (for everyone) and that deep is almost incomprehensible. It is the love that Jesus our Lord has for the world. It is the very love of God. Perfect love. Wide love. Deep love.
A more honest way to sing this song might be:
Lord Jesus, I so often don’t have peace, joy and love…. but you do, without measure. Open my life to receive these gifts and by your Holy Spirit, let these watery gifts flow in and through me. Amen.