In our ever tumultuous world, sometimes God calls to us through the chaos and noise of our lives. Other times He speaks to us in the still and quiet places. Through it all, He beckons us to pay attention, and, when we pay attention, His Word promises us peace like a river. We can experience that peace spiritually, deep within our souls, in ways no circumstances can affect. However, sometimes we are also privileged to experience that peace very physically, very tangibly. This is exactly what happened to me on my first day in England. By the powerful but peaceful waters of the Thames River, God began to speak to me anew.
The Mighty Thames
I never anticipated how deeply the magnificent Thames would affect me. Many years ago, when I knew nothing about this river, I learned how to pronounce “Thames” when a co-worker, whose last name was Thames, corrected my mispronunciation of his name, concluding, “It’s just like the River Thames.” I had no frame of reference for the river then, but I did learn how to pronounce the word that day: “timz.” Multiple decades flowed by before I actually experienced the Thames. On our recent United Kingdom adventure, the mighty Thames was our first taste of Britain.
When Kelly and I arrived at London’s Heathrow Airport, our gracious hosts picked us up, determined to help us get over jet lag in a day. Their plan was to keep us moving until a proper English bedtime. So, we loaded into their car and drove past the outskirts of London to their quaint little town of Marlow. We entered their village by crossing a suspension bridge over the Thames, our first peek of this beautiful river on this trip of a lifetime.
Soon after unloading our luggage, we went for our first walk, past historic houses and over to a beautiful footbridge. In one direction, the Thames stepped down in a waterfall. In the other direction, the Marlow Lock helped boaters navigate the river just as it has for centuries. Swans floated in the waters; ducks built their nests, and flowers blew in the riverside breeze. At first sight, I was smitten.
All Saints Church
Our walk continued, past more historic houses, round a corner and through a walkway lined with hand-hewn rock walls. Across quaint streets and round blind corners, we presently arrived at a church yard. Timeworn tombstones tilted this way and that, covered with ivy and flowers, a beautiful disarray. The All Saints Church spire pointed straight to the sky. We walked through the church’s graveyard then turned another corner. There was the River Thames, again, mere feet away from the graves on that side of the church. Flowing life-waters next to grave markers, side by side.
The Thames Path
We continued our stroll and made our way back over to the suspension bridge. From there, we began to walk the Thames Path, which apparently follows the river for over 180 miles. All told, we only walked a few of its miles, but I could have meandered that trail for many more. The river was breathtaking to me. It’s flowing waters surrounded by a cacophony of roses, flowers, swans, boats, historic mansions and verdant trees. For someone from arid, landlocked Colorado, the scenery was exquisite.
Bishop All Saints Church
We walked to a point with lush open space on one side and the Thames flowing on the other side. Suddenly, in a view framed by the riverside trees, we saw an ancient church on the opposite side of the river. Mere feet from the Thames, this church, called Bisham All Saints, is about 1,000 years old and still welcomes worshippers today. We would visit that church later during our trip, but, on that first day, I just stopped and stared at it, in awe of its beauty.
Our walk up the Thames Path ended then, but my heart was overflowing with what we had already seen. The river had begun to do its work on my tired soul, and its waters kept beckoning me. Each day we were in Marlow, I was drawn to the Thames, whether via a peek through a window or a traipse down to the footbridge. I live by a creek here in Colorado, so I am full aware that water can change from rippling to raging in a moment. However, on this trip, the River Thames was calm, weighty and magnificent. I could hardly get enough of it.
The Invitation to Pay Attention
Through this powerful yet peaceful river, I felt God begin to call to my heart:
“This is what the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel says:
I am the Lord your God,
Who teaches you for your benefit,
Who leads you in the way you should go.
If only you had paid attention to my commands.
Then your peace would have been like a river.”
(Isaiah 48:18-19 CSB)
The Thames River was my invitation, as I would follow where He led and looked where He pointed on this trip. I felt the imagery and experienced His admonition by the still, restful waters: Pay attention, Tosha. Pay attention.
Soon, our trip of a lifetime would take us a million steps in many, many more directions for two full weeks. So many sights and stories throughout England and Scotland captivated me. This trip turned out to be about so much more than fulfilling my tourist curiosity, though. As I paid attention, the trip helped me better see who God is, how He leads and the peace He gives. That first day by the Thames’ quiet waters was the beginning of this river.
Thing is, God’s peace like a river isn’t just an invitation for big trips of a lifetime. The “pay attention,” the “come and see,” God offers us is for every day, every moment, every where in our lives, no matter where He leads us.
May we all have eyes to see.
Be encouraged ❤️
Tosha
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