P is for Peace

My usual sign-off at the end of email messages is “Peace.”  In some ways I’m guessing this is a hangover from my “Jesus freak” hippy days in the 70’s – you know, “peace, love, dove, and Bobby Sherman!”  At the same time I am conscious of what a shortage of peace there is in the world.  Don’t get me wrong, I am a believer in the “just war” hypothesis: as the writer of Ecclesiastes says, there is a time for war and a time for peace.  However, it is also true that we live in the Age of Anxiety – and there is no greater killer of peace than anxiety.

There are three aspects of peace I want to touch on briefly for your meditation this week.  First, from the gospel (“good news”) of John the Apostle – “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful” (14:27).  Jesus promised to give us who follow him a peace different than that which we can get from the world; but what does this mean?  A clue comes from a nearby verse:  “These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace [there’s that word we’re looking for].  In the world you have tribulation [that doesn’t sound like peace!], but take courage; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).  Taken together we see that followers of Christ are promised a peace that is not dependent on context – rather it is supplied from above, from the power of the Holy Spirit.  And because of that we don’t have to be troubled in heart, or feel fear, no matter the circumstances.

Second, there is a wealth of meaning in understanding more deeply the Hebrew word for peace – shalom.  Again beginning from the verse in John 14:27, the version of the Bible called The Message gives us our first glimpse of the deeper meaning of peace:  “I’m leaving you well and whole. That’s my parting gift to you. Peace.”   See, the Hebrew understanding of peace includes wellness, wholeness, contentment, a lack of contention – even financial wellbeing!  This peace that we are promised is not some passive absence of drama in our lives; no, it is something tangible, something you can sink your teeth into – this is the peace God wants us to have.

But this solid, steady peace doesn’t come naturally or easily.  It is first a work of the heavenly Trio – that is where this enduring, abiding peace comes from – so…

• We have to ask for it!  Like so many other spiritual blessings, “[we] have not because [we] ask not” (James 4:2)!  
• And then we have to trust that the Father who wants good things for His children will indeed provide that shalom. 
• And then two more tools to accessing this heavenly peace:  “And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts…And always be thankful.” (Colossians 3:15).  So sure, we want this peace to be the predominant, in charge state of being – but how?  And if I could feel peaceful most of the time, why of course, I’d be thankful!  But that’s the reverse order; the third tool for having this heavenly peace is…
• Be thankful.  Cultivating an attitude of gratitude is in fact one of the most powerful ways to move from anxiety to peace – so start by being grateful, even before the circumstances change, and you’ll move toward peace.  And finally,…
• The Amplified version elaborates very helpfully on the word rule:  And let the peace (soul harmony which comes) from Christ rule (act as umpire continually) in your hearts [deciding and settling with finality all questions that arise in your minds... And be thankful (appreciative), [giving praise to God always].  If we allow the peace of Christ to be the decision-maker in our lives we will live much more of the time in a state of peace.  When facing a decision, if one option moves me away from the peace of Christ, then that’s not the option I want; if when I consider another option I am more filled with the peace of Christ – then that’s the one I’m going for.  And so the presence of the peace of Christ “umpires” my decision-making, my life – and that peace will indeed be more enduring.

So, shalom y’all!

O Is for Openness

The rounded, available space of the first letter of this word says so much. 
   When I am open I am ready to receive, to be filled. 
              When my arms are open I am ready for a hug;
                         when my heart is open I am ready for a relationship;
                                 when my mind is open I am curious, receptive to a new idea or perspective. 

When my eyes are open I am willing to see what is real, what is true;
    when my ears are open I can hear what is true, what is without guile.
              When my attitudes are open, I have suspended judgmentalism and am ready for new opinions.
                          When I have released the past, I am free from resentments and open to new connections.

What a beautiful way to live!  How much energy flows from the lifestyle described above!  How much life there is in that life!  And so…
     Why am I so ready to live the other way:
                Guarded, with my body closed up and my mind even tighter, 
                    and my heart most tightly closed of all?
                       Why do I grasp my fears and resentments to my chest?
                               Why do I seek comfort in my own woundedness? 
                                          And rehearse the thoughts that are most poisonous to me?

Breath of Heaven – breathe Your courage, and Your light, and yes – Your openness – into my being.

N is for New Life

Here we are in the Easter week of 2008! I’m reminded of a column I read earlier this week by Chuck Colson in which he referred to the Celtic Christians of another generation, who celebrated the Creator by delving deeply into His Creation. Look around you this week – can you possibly miss the sprouting of new life from every side during this lush Spring season? We took the opportunity this past week to spruce up our back yard with new trees and shrubs – and just reveled in the opportunity to participate in the blossoming of the season. And this week as well – many people participate in the spiritual new life, celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ – something very different than mere religion, and noted so by millions of people.

What needs sprucing up in your life? What could use a touch of new greenery – or even of resurrection life?! The Scriptures are very clear that not only does the resurrection of Jesus mean something in itself – that the Author of Life always trumps the Doctor of Death – but it also means that each one of us, each day of our lives, can have that same resurrection energy flowing through us! Think about how you feel on the best morning when you just awake, on the best day of the best month of Spring, when you and the world around you are bursting with new life and renewed energy – and there are no allegies! – that is the energy and life that Christ came to bring you.

Remember – the unforced rhythms of grace spring from the Fountain of Eternal Life – we hope that fountain wells up in you this week!

M is for Mission

This is the first Weekly Word coming to you from Durham Psychological Services! As such, we’re using it to communicate to you the mission of our company: to assist you in learning “the unforced rhythms of grace!” I wish I could take credit for that phrase, but here it from Eugene Peterson’s paraphrase of the Bible:

“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”

(Matthew 11: 28 – 30

Let me put it simply and directly. Our belief is that when we as human beings are living in the paths and ways that we were designed to live it, our lives will flow with a natural rhythm that is free and light – we’ll be in the groove! The reason for this is that when we are at peace with ourselves, and with those people around us, and with our God – nearly all of the conflict of our lives will be gone! Think about how much of your anxiety, or worry, or sadness, or anger – stem from a lack of harmony with the significant relationships of your life! When we don’t “keep company” with God, then we’re most frequently out of step with those around us.

This week – look for a new way and a new means – to fall into step with God and learn the rhythm of grace!