Peace: A Lesson from Our Circus Troupe

On By Beth AlisanIn Lessons

A circus troupe lives in our house.  Every morning and evening like clockwork they stage their act.  The performers consist of an acrobatic tortoise shell kitty and a clownish yellow Labmaraner, with cameo appearances by our black Labrador. 

Our troupe’s performance usually begins when the acrobat perches herself just out of reach of the clown. On occasion she’ll start the show by tight rope walking along the kitchen counter or along the sofa back.  The clown in turn seeks to knock the acrobat from her position through comical bounces and body contortions.  The acrobat responds with death defying leaps from one perch to the next before racing out of sight.  The clown then uses her pink nose to sniff out the acrobat and rouse her from her spot.  At this point the acrobat serves up a taunting paw pop to the nose before racing off.  A chase ensues.  If the performance becomes too rambunctious, the black Labrador steps in as ring master and sounds some “tone it down” barks.  That said, the ring master has been known to get lured into the chase, much to acrobat’s delight. 

Without a doubt our circus troupe adds a daily dose of chaos to our otherwise orderly home.  Usually, the acrobat and clown spend their off hours napping in different parts of the house.  One morning, I walked into the main room and found our acrobatic cat Reeses fast asleep in her cat tree while our clown Summer slept on the floor below.  It was a snapshot of peace. 

Jesus tells us, “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives.”  What I was witnessing was an example of the world’s peace.  It was a pause in the chaos.  With it came the knowledge that it would be short lived.  The moment Reeses hopped out of the cat tree, Summer chased her through the kitchen and up the stairs.

The peace Jesus promises is different.   It doesn’t rely on a change in circumstances.   Rather His peace is the calm of heart and mind in the midst of the chaos spiraling around you.

Dear Reader, may you seek the lasting peace that only Jesus can offer.

Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

John 14:27

© 2024, Lessons from a Lab, Beth Alisan.  All Rights Reserved.

22 thoughts on “Peace: A Lesson from Our Circus Troupe”

  2. As long as they don’t cause mischief, your animals must certainly provide plenty of entertainment! Thank you for sharing their antics with us, Beth. You described their escapades very well! / As for the peace when all is still, praise God he can create in our spirits the peace that surpasses understanding in the midst of heartache or trouble. (Lord, help us avail ourselves!)

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  4. Happy December! Wonderful post on God’s peace. Philippians 4:4-7 is a favorite verse of mine. God’s peace does surpass our understanding. It is so deep and so wide that it cannot be contained or fathomed by our imagination. We can only trust with our hearts and souls and His peace comes upon us. It is good that we cannot fully understand it…it is a matter of faith.

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    1. Thank you Tierney! No, our crew ensures we are never bored. They like to keep us on our toes by offering occasional afternoon matinees. Once a year, we take the dogs on a trip to the mountains while the cat gets left behind. I’m convinced she misses the dogs more than she misses us. I hope you and John had a lovely Thanksgiving.

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  6. Andy B of The BerryBunch's avatar BerryBunch.family

    “The peace Jesus promises is different. It doesn’t rely on a change in circumstances. Rather His peace is the calm of heart and mind in the midst of the chaos spiraling around you.”

    Isn’t it just. Very worth fighting for that peace when we find ourselves feeling like peace is being replaced by worry.

    Andy B

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    1. Indeed Andy, very worth fighting for. I’ll be honest that I crave order and shrink from chaos. Thus, it is easy for me to get so focused on my desire for order that I seek the world’s version of peace and forget to look to Jesus’ peace that will carry me through the chaos.

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    1. The best part is, Gary that we do take the show on the road. We just returned from spending Thanksgiving week at my parent’s house in which the cat and the dogs are invited. It is entertaining to see how they modify their act to fit my parent’s house. My mom says the house is just too quiet and boring after we leave. LOL I hope you and your family had a lovely Thanksgiving.

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  8. Thank you for sharing your circus troupe today 😊 Even cats and dogs need peace now and again. I am super thankful for the peace that our Lord brings to our lives, especially in difficult times. God bless you and your family today sister 🙏

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  9. Thanks for the great photos of your circus troupe and their lesson! They remind me that the peace Jesus gives is not like the Roman peace, where conquered nations had peace after being crushed under the military might of the Ceasars. The peace of God is His gift, given to hearts willingly and humbly surrendered to Him.

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  11. The chaos of the circus never seems far away. Clowns and acrobats, indeed! On the other hand, the peace that Jesus offers is less chaotic and more relaxing. It’s always encouraging to read your posts, Beth. Your animal friends work together well to share God’s truth.
    Blessings!

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