A. Geist Production

Peace… is hard to come by in my life. Especially in this season of living. Church work seems to be ramping up to something significant (idk, maybe the Christmas season, or other things I never really know anymore, God does and that settles it for me).

Either way home is not very peaceful either. Not a criticism of my wife and kids in anyway, because even when she is stressed out of her mind, I am truly jealous of her ability to breath and be calm. (Though I know she would say that she loses it from time to time.)

I don’t always have that. Over the weekend I was short with her and the kids. My patience and efforts to have peace were thwarted by you guessed it two kids 2 years old and under.

RAW honesty time. As a musician and singer there are certain frequencies that I can only tolerate for short periods of time. My son and daughter both seem to be gifted in creating those frequencies for long periods of time. (sigh)

Raw honesty again, being a parent is hard. I know such fresh revelations Andrew, but my wife and I share a look and it’s the “What were we thinking look?” or “Why did we do this to ourselves?” Please read me out, these looks are fleeting, because for every moment we are exhausted and at our wits end. We watch our son and daughter achieve another milestone, which leads to exhilaration.

My son Frederik Wallace Geist is incredible. He is smart and so articulate these days and each day he is adding new words to his list. He has a memory like a steel trap, he has 5-10 different books memorized and specific sections he can quote as though he is reading them back to me. He has a musical mind, he sings 5-10 different songs and all having a variation of a version he has heard in different contexts. He loves Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata 1st Movement (a personal favorite of mine on the piano) and Vivaldi’s 4 Seasons (Elena and I’s favorite chamber piece). He is so smart, so empathetic, and so unbelievably curious.

My daughter Evelyn Naomi Geist, is examining the world around her. She is smiling and nearing the point of making baby sounds to us. She is moving every part of her body, and eating mom dry to be honest. But she has beautiful brown hair right now like her mom. Looking into her face sometimes feels like I am looking into a beautiful mirror and seeing Elena, Frederik and I all meshed into this beautiful princess girl.

Not a lot of people know that we were so intentional with their names.

Frederik Wallace Geist

Frederik means “Peaceful Ruler”

Wallace means “Welshman, or foreigner” for my mother’s side of the family who is welsh.

Geist means “Spirit, or Ghost”

Our prayer is that he would be a peaceful ruler when he comes of age that he would step into foreign situations and be a spirit of peace or peacemaking in his generation.

Evenly Naomi Geist

Evelyn means “Wished for”

Naomi means “beautiful”

Geist means “Spirit, or Ghost”

Our prayer for Evelyn is that as she was our wished for beautiful spirit, we want her to possess it as well in her character. That she would step into a room and everyone would feel as though the room has become more beautiful, pleasant and enjoyable because of her character in any given situation. Also, praying she is the most beautiful woman like her mom is top of this Dad’s list.

But still my heart comes back to peace…

Not the lacking of it in all situations, but the arrival of it at just the right moment.

God’s word says he will give us peace that passes all understanding. Not as the world gives peace but only as he does.

The funny thing is God’s peace doesn’t arrive with a bang as I have come to find. It comes as a washing, like standing in the rain just letting it run down your face. Or under a waterfall.

A waterfall is a better description because God’s peace is powerful. It isn’t weak or lacking in strength, it’s actually quite sufficient, much like his grace. Another God trait that arrives at just the right time.

The peace I am experiencing lately has come over the course of about a month and half. But it seems to be arriving more rapidly this last 9 days of 21 days.

I am very grateful that God’s peace has found me. I am unbelievably grateful that it’s arrived at the right time. That it is giving me the ability to keep my side of the street clean, run my race and pray for those whose brokeness, garbage, hurts, habits, and hang ups keep spilling into my side of the street. While also giving me the time to identify what is my mess and what is someone else’s.

This is no small feat for a codependent like me.

But it’s happening folks. God’s peace is happening in my life.