HIT OVER THE HEAD

In her wise and sensitive audio Lessons in Living (BDD Audio, 1997),
Susan Taylor tells of lessons learned from experiencing a California
earthquake. She was in bed in the early hours of the morning when an
earthquake struck. As her house shook, she tumbled from her bed. She
managed to stand underneath an arched doorway in her hall and watched
in horror as her whole home literally tumbled down around her. Where
her bed had once stood, she later discovered nothing but a pile of
rubble. She lost everything -- every button, every dish, her
automobile, every stitch of clothing.

Susan huddled, scared and crying, in the darkness of her house. It
was very early in the morning and the sun had not yet risen. She began
to call out for help. Crying and calling.

As exhaustion set in, she thought that maybe she should be listening
for rescuers rather than calling out. She grew still and listened. In
the silence around her, the only sound she heard was the beating of
her own heart. It occurred to her then that at least she was still
alive! She was unhurt except for cuts and bruises. She may have lost
everything else, but not her life! As she thought about her situation,
she was flooded with a feeling of indescribable peace and happiness,
the likes of which she had never known. That experience, by the way,
was to permanently change her.

In the deepest part of her being, Susan knew she had nothing to fear
whether or not she was ever rescued. For the first time, she realized
that her true security lay deep within and did not depend upon
anything material -- even her physical safety!

Later, she heard sirens and voices of people calling out to her. They
had found her. And this is what she says: "Before the quake I had all
the trappings of success, but my life was out of balance. I wasn't
happy because I was clinging to things in my life and always wanting
more. My home, my job, my clothes, a
relationship -- I thought they were my security. It took an earthquake
and losing everything I owned for me to discover that my security had
been with me all along."

She adds, "There's a power within us that we can depend upon no
matter what is happening around us. Now, each day of my life I take
time to sit in silence and allow God to be God in me."

It's as if life sometimes has to hit us over the head to get our
attention! But when we realize where to find true security, then we
know also where to find peace.



Steve Goodier Publisher@... is a professional
speaker, consultant and author of numerous books. Visit his site for
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