PEACE AND QUIET (Psalm 55)

Get me out of here on dove wings; I want some peace and quiet.
I want a walk in the country, I want a cabin in the woods.
I'm desperate for a change from rage and stormy weather. (Psalm 55:6-8, MSG)

Living in a nurse home, I know the desire for peace and quiet.

Both the gentlemen in the room next to me are noisy. One of them raps his hands against the wall, all night long. Some times he knocks so hard the wall trembles. His room mate screams, "Ma'am! Ma'am! Ma'am!" for hours a time--he wants someone to sit with him, just to talk. The staff will take five minutes with him every now and then, but no one gets one-on-one care.

I don't mind them so badly. When I hurt, I moan, cry, scream--so I make plenty of noise myself.

They recently moved most of the dementia residents to my wing. Oh, my. Cacophony rules at mealtimes. One lady sings without words. A gent talks in a low monotone, cussing all the while. Another alternates between singing hymns and using offensive name calling (yup, you can guess what). Another lady talks nonstop in her singsong, hard on the ear, loud, voice. Occasionally someone will have enough and shouts, "SHUT UP!"

It's so bad that I decided to go to the other dining room to eat, with the other physically incapacitated but mentally acute individuals live. It's so quiet in there, I can't decide which is worse. No conversation--or stories I can repeat word for word?

Like David, I want a walk in the country and a cabin. Providing it comes with an electric wheelchair and an aide.

Desperate for a change from rage--directed at me, of course, but also my own rage. Except I carry it with me. I'd need a good dose of mountain solitude to dilute it.

A change from stormy weather? Here in Oklahoma , every spring, people keep an eye on the weather channel. Tornadoes torment this part of the country on a yearly basis. The town where my son lives has been hit hard three times in the past fifteen years.

I've heard that San Jose, California, enjoys spring-like weather year round. That sounds good to me.

But what I need more than anything is the escape on dove wings, one of spirit and soul and not to a place.

Today's favorite verse: You've kept track of my every toss and turn through the sleepless nights, each tear entered in your ledger, each ache written in your book. (Psalm 56:8, MSG)