I’m enjoying a glorious morning in New Bern today. The sun is shining through the tall oak trees, the birds are happily waking up to a new day, and the wind is gently whispering in the woods. I spoke to a group of ladies in New Bern last night and I spent the night in a quaint AirBnb cottage in the country. And it came with an amenity that I love: a front porch.

All last night I looked forward to my morning on the porch. I live in an expansive neighborhood in Wilmington on 0.2 of an acre. I love my home and my garden and my neighbors, but to be honest, there is not a lot of peace and quiet there. When I escape to my back porch to enjoy my coffee and the birds and my garden, I’m usually greeted by the sounds of lawn mowers, air conditioners, and lots and lots of cars. So I truly relish a quiet morning in the country.

The older I get, the more I crave peace and quiet and solitude.

This morning, as I sat here in the quiet enjoying my coffee, I schemed. I tried to figure out how I could have my own house in the country.

I thought about selling my home (and my lovely garden) and building a house on lots of acreage on the outskirts of Wilmington. Or, when the kids are out of college and I’m no longer paying their car insurance, I wondered if we could buy a second home on Lake Waccamaw, about an hour outside of Wilmington. And finally, I let my mind roam to my fondest dream: living in the mountains.

These homes would be surrounded by trees, birds, and perhaps have a small pond to enjoy. I could come outside and sit on my own front porch, drink my coffee, and enjoy a relaxing morning. It would be serene.

And then, my dreaming and scheming was interrupted by a repulsive noise. I heard a trash truck.  

I heard it long before I saw it, because the noise of the trash truck carries, it seems, for miles. Suddenly, I could no longer hear the birds or the wind. All I could hear was hydraulic brakes and a noisy diesel engine. So peaceful.

I saw the trash truck stop at an intersection in distance. And then, the trash truck turned to come down my road.

Because trash trucks still come in the country.

And loud noisy school busses, too.

And big Ford trucks with large mufflers that sound like motorcycles.

The view is certainly picturesque, but its noisy here, too.

Sometimes the way that we endure our current existence is to build fantasies in our minds of a better life. I long for a day when I am far far way from people who can hurt me. I yearn for peace and quiet. In my fantasy, I want to be a hermit and left all alone. I dream about that, but it’s not practical.

You probably have a fantasy world too. You may fantasize about a job where you will be happy. Or a different husband, one who will love you the way you deserve to be loved. Or a larger home or a newer car or nicer phone.

If only…

But, dear reader, trash trucks still come in the country. Our problems and the noise of life will follow us to our fantasy world.

Most likely if I had that house in the country I would not be enjoying my coffee on the front porch. I would be in the house, paying bills or sending emails or calling doctor’s offices. I would still have to shower and get dressed and run errands. Life would not be a vacation in my fantasy would. It might be a slower pace, but I doubt it would be without difficulties.

The answer, for me, is to turn toward God to meet my deepest desires, the ones I search for in my fantasy world.

God is the only one who can give peace.
God alone can give contenment.
God loves the way we deserve to be loved
God gives what is best for the moment.
God is full of hope and healing.

So consider your own life, and your fantasy world, and the deep desires and longings in your heart. And give them to Jesus. He alone can satisfy.

Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’”  John 7:37-38

My “people-less, noise-less front porch on lots of land” fantasy world won’t satisfy.

I enjoyed the peaceful country morning and my coffee for a little while longer.  And then the trash truck returned.

Because trash trucks still come in the country.

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