You have not given me into the hands of the enemy but have set my feet in a spacious place.  Psalm 31:8
 
 
The birds chirp their cheery song punctuated only by bees buzzing their own tune. The soft grass is verdant and neatly trimmed. Calmness exudes from the dark stream dotted with yellow, white, and purple irises. Tall trees standing sentinel over the garden cast their cool shadows over flowers and shrubs.
 
Seeking peace, I find it in an off-the-beaten-path kind of way. But getting here is not so easy. Driving in France in a rental car is something I do only out of necessity, but occasionally the joy of the freedom it brings outweighs the costs. Choosing a destination and striking out on my own is outside of my comfort zone. The narrow roads were apparently designed without the likelihood that two cars might need to pass each other as they travel in opposite directions. The roads are only wide enough for one and a half cars which is a cause of concern on my part, but apparently not on the part of the drivers coming towards me. The blind curves and winding asphalt create a sense of unwelcomed adventure. As Google Maps alerts me of my destination just ahead on the right, I frantically scan the scene for a parking lot. Going too far and then doubling back, I locate a mostly dirt and gravel lot that grass threatens to overtake. I park and get out of the car.
 
Crossing the road to Château de Pesselières, I am greeted by a helpful young man who trades my euros for a map of the park. As I wander down the path, I feel enveloped in a sense of peace. As there are only a few other visitors, the gardens around the château are quiet. My pace slows down. I regain a sense of balance and perspective.
 
Château de Pesselières is a small castle located between Sancerre and Bourges in France’s Loire Valley. Steeped in history, this stronghold existed as far back as the 12th century. Owned by the Counts of Sancerre, the castle has been partially destroyed and then restored repeatedly over the centuries. Due to being strategically located, it bears witness to both the Hundred Years’ War (1337-1453) and also the Wars of Religion (1562-1598) where, in the very center of disputed territory, it protected the defenders of Protestant Sancerre.
 
Wandering through the lush grass, taking photos as I go, the verse in Psalm 31 comes to mind. God has indeed set my feet in a spacious place. But the road to get here was not easy. Looking back at the curves in the road, the blind spots, the too-narrow-to-pass places, I realize God’s goodness over the years. After one loss after another over a period of six years, God has put my feet in a new space, a new beginning, indeed a new life. He wove the threads of my grief in with His grace to create a fabric stronger than before and more beautiful.
 
Where are you in the road of life? Are you traveling a winding road full of unforeseen circumstances that threaten to overtake you? Take time out to take care of yourself, to find and enjoy beauty around you. Take heart that God travels with you and will certainly set your feet in a most bountiful and spacious place.
 
 
Lord, thank You for Your goodness. Even though the road of life may be difficult and unpredictable, I thank You for peace in those respite moments, in spacious places where I discover and enjoy the beauty You created. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
 
 
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Text and photograph copyright © 2018 by Dawn Dailey. All rights reserved. Photo of Château de Pesselières, Jalognes, France.
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All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™

The LORD is trustworthy in all he promises and faithful in all he does.   Psalm 145:13b
 
 
One of my favorite movies is Chocolat. Set in a quaint French town just after World War II, the film begins as Vianne arrives at the start of Lent and opens a chocolate shop. Because she is an unwed mom and tempts them with forbidden desserts during Lent, the town’s pretentious mayor shuns her and encourages the townspeople to do likewise. Despite how she is treated, Vianne perseveres in showing love to her neighbors and helps many of them resolve the struggles in their lives. Even in her own disappointment, she reaches out to help others in theirs. She overcomes prejudice and contempt with love and care. Even though she doesn’t attend the local church, she is far more Christ-like than the church-going townspeople.
 
Earlier this year, I had the opportunity to visit the town of Flavigny-sur-Ozerain, that quaint village where Chocolat was filmed. I was so excited to be going there and couldn’t wait to take lots of photos. Upon arriving, I wandered the narrow streets lined with medieval houses and buildings. Our guide pointed out where Vianne’s chocolate shop was filmed. It was never actually a chocolate shop. The ancient structure with its arched window seemed to me to lack the luster and allure I remembered from the movie. Opposite the shop stands the church where several scenes in the movie were filmed. I knew there had been a statue in front of the church in the movie and when I inquired about it, the guide said it was only there for the movie. Silently entering the church, I sensed the interior seemed much smaller than in the film. While I am so glad to have traveled to the picturesque town of Flavigny-sur-Ozerain where I did take lots of interesting photos and had a lovely visit, I am a bit disappointed the town didn’t resemble the village I had seen in the movie.
 
My life is not movie-set perfect either. Scenes are unscripted. Lines are ad-libbed. Improvisation rules. When feeling disappointed, I find I’m not a character in a movie where I can simply memorize my lines and act courageously. And life does disappoint sometimes, doesn’t it? We don’t have the career we dreamed of. We wake up and discover our spouse isn’t who we thought they were (and we’re not who they thought we were!). We don’t live up to our own expectations of ourselves. The people in our lives, whether friends, family, or co-workers, let us down without meaning to. Circumstances, too, morph into situations we never expect and would never want.
 
What happens when we feel disappointed? Do we internalize disappointment and allow it to impact our self-worth? Do we let it influence our decisions so that we play it safe or give up? How can we be real with our disappointment and find the courage to move forward?
 
Psalm 145:13 says that God is faithful. His promises are trustworthy. We can count on Him to do what He says. God will never disappoint us. When life doesn’t happen like we expect and people let us down, being honest with the Lord through prayer helps us find the courage to persevere. Reading the Bible keeps us focused on God’s character. Knowing God is in our corner even when it seems others are not, we can find joy and contentment. God is faithful through all of life’s disappointments. His love for us never fails. Thanks be to God!
 
Lord, I thank You that You never disappoint. Your love never fails. Help me be real with You when I feel disappointed. Give me the courage to move forward as I rely on You and Your never-failing faithfulness. Amen.
 
 
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Text and photograph copyright © 2018 by Dawn Dailey. All rights reserved. Photo from Flavigny-sur-Ozerain, Burgundy, France.
 
 
All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™