Annotation-Peace like a River (long blog)

Tara Wilson

Intro to Literature

November 12, 2011

Annotation-Peace like a River (long blog)

One of "Peace Like a River," by Lief Enger, main themes includes all the miracles that take place through out the book. Rueben, The narrator believes that miracles are only miracles if they are witnessed. Rueben talks about what he thinks of the word miracle, He says, “Let me say something about that word: miracle. For too long it's been used to characterize things or events that, though pleasant, are entirely normal. Peeping chicks at Easter time, spring generally, a clear sunrise after an overcast week--a miracle, people say, as if they've been educated from greeting cards.” He also says "Real miracles bother people, like strange sudden pains unknown in medical literature. It's true: They rebut every rule all we good citizens take comfort in. Lazarus obeying orders and climbing up out of the grave - now there's a miracle, and you can bet it upset a lot of folks who were standing around at the time. When a person dies, the earth is generally unwilling to cough him back up. A miracle contradicts the will of the earth.”  

The word miracle, on merriam-webster.com is defined as an extremely outstanding or unusual event, thing, or accomplishment. Also according to merriam-webster.com, in a Christian science form, Miracle can be defined as a divinely natural phenomenon experienced humanly as the fulfillment of spiritual law.

There were many miracles that took place throughout “Peace Like a River.” Some miracles are very noticeable, making the reader think, “wow, God was with them” and others that you may have not even taken notice to. Many of the miracles were because of Jeremiah and his relationship with the Lord.

The first chapter consisted of one of the biggest miracles, Rueben’s life. Rueben was born with bad lungs; He stopped breathing for about twelve minutes after he was born.  Jeremiah Land, his father, said “Reuben Land, in the name of the living God I am telling you to breathe.” He was then able to breathe and live with no brain damage after twelve minutes without oxygen. How can you say God wasn’t with him in that terrifying moment?

Jeremiah was also a miracle when he saved Dolly’s life. Tommy Basca and Israel Finch, two evil boys, were beating up Dolly. Dolly was Davy’s, Jeremiah’s son, girlfriend. Jeremiah was the Janitor and walked in on the attack in the girls’ locker room. It was a miracle he was able to be there and get there in time to save her life.

 Davy being able to escape from jail was miracle. There was no proof exactly, but I believe Jeremiah aided Davy escape from prison. I believe Jeremiah prayed for Davy to have freedom and he did.

Another miracle occurred with Swede’s birthday present. Davy gave Swede a saddle. The saddle inspired her and her western novel of sunny sundown. When he first gave her the saddle, it had a tare in it. It was damaged.  Later Jeremiah stumbled over it and touched it. After his hands touched it, Swede, found it with no damage. His touch was a miracle.

Running into Roxanna in the Badlands was a miracle. Roxanna Crawely works Dale’s Oil Company. They came upon this place at the perfect time. They were running out of gas and oil and all the gas stations had investigators waiting for them to stop.  Roxanna is a blessing in their lives. She feeds them, gives them a place to stay, and takes care of them. Jeremiah falls in love with her. It was also a miracle that they stopped there and stayed for just enough time for the Davy stopping, otherwise they would have continued there traveling.

Rueben living through his Asthma attack was a miracle. Reuben wakes up to Roxanna pounding him on the back one morning. He had an asthma attack and I believe that Roxanna and Jeremiah helped him live through it. Rueben’s entire life was a miracle. The fact that Jeremiah ends up dying and he doesn’t is a shock to me. Defiantly unexpected, which explains the definition of a miracle, “extremely outstanding or unusual event, thing, or accomplishment.”

I believe this quote is a great way to think of miracles, “love works in miracles every day: such as weakening the strong, and strengthening the weak: making fools of the wise, and wise men of fools, favoring the passions, destroying reason, and in a word, turning everything topsy-turvy.”  This quote was by Marguerite De Valois, Some people believe it’s unrealistic to hope for miracles, I believe God provides us with miracles everyday. He blesses us daily. From one heart beat to the next is a miracle. The

I have recently had hip surgery and lately I’ve been discouraged with the amount of progress I’ve been making. I had surgery over 5 months ago. I am still not aloud to run. As I read threw my journal I kept after surgery, I realize how much of a miracle it is that I am doing as well as I am. I look back on how much of a struggle it was to do everyday tasks and the fact that I am able to so much with no trouble is a blessing.  I do thank God everyday for my continuous improvements and I do trust that he will continue to guide and protect me. Another miracles is my younger brothers life. When he was five years old, He had a very serious form of cancer called Neuroblastoma. This cancer takes over the patient’s nerves all through out their bones. My brother was supposed to die, but thanks to all the prayers and wonderful doctors, his body fought the cancer off. I do believe it is a miracle he is alive. I am so thankful for him. He is truly the happiest kid I’ve ever met. I've experienced a lot more "extremely outstanding or unusual event, thing, or accomplishments" through out my life. I believe Jeremiah and his family experienced these miracles because they had the Lord on their side.

Works Cited:

Dictionary and Thesaurus - Merriam-Webster Online. Web. 12 Nov. 2011. <http://www.merriam-webster.com/>.

Enger, Leif. Peace like a River. New York: Atlantic Monthly, 2001. Print.

"Marguerite De Valois." Index of /. Web. 12 Nov. 2011. <http://home.infionline.net/~ddisse/valois.html>.

"Marguerite De Valois Quotes - The Quotations Page." Quotes and Famous Sayings - The Quotations Page. Web. 12 Nov. 2011. <http://www.quotationspage.com/quotes/Marguerite_de_Valois/>.