The Candle of Peace[/caption]The Candle of Peace
We lit another Advent Candle in church this week – the second one - , the Candle of Peace. It was announced that, “ We light this candle to remind us that our Lord Jesus brings peace to all who trust in Him.”
I’ll focus in this post on a more temporal peace; let’s call it “walking-around peace,” instead of eternal peace.
Defining Peace
Peace is defined these two ways (there are other, more general definitions):
- a state of mutual harmony in personal relationships:
- Freedom from disquieting or oppressive thoughts or emotions.
I’d like to ask you two questions:
- Can you truthfully say that your own life fully satisfies both definitions of peace?
- How many people do you know whose lives demonstrated true peace according to those definitions?
I suspect that you answers contained some form of “No” and “Not many.”
What’s the Problem?
The fundamental problem lies in the second definition where it talks about “disquieting or oppressive thoughts or emotions.”
Society today is sharply focused on “self.”
- “Don’t you get up in my face!.”
- “You better respect me!”
- “I deserve . . .”
- “I have the right to . . .”
- “I don’t have to take that.”
- “Don’t be minding my business.”
Whenever somebody gets in our space, either accidentally or intentionally, all kinds of emotions erupt like a volcano: anger, fear, loathing, flight, fight.
And we record any such offense so we can replay the offense time and time again whenever it suits us.
It suits us when we want some sympathy and nobody gives us any. Answer – recall a painful event and feel sorry for ourselves.
It suits us when we feel the need to assert ourselves and there’s nobody around for us to assert upon. Solution – recall a painful event and assert ourselves vicariously.
It suits us when we see somebody that reminds us of that low-down, scheming . . .
It suits us when we’re alone wishing for a friend.
It suits us when we’re in a crowd wishing we were somewhere else.
If we could keep accurate records of all the times we entertain disquieting or oppressive thoughts or emotions, we would be amazed. Most of us spend some time each day stewing over a wrong suffered or suffering guilt over our own shortcomings.
And this rumination on negative thoughts and emotions can destroy us – physically and emotionally.
Life Doesn’t have to be that Way
If you could dismiss just one of those negative thoughts, a glimmer might reach you from your candle of peace – just a flicker.
If you could handle more of those negative thoughts, the flicker becomes a flame – small but steady.
If you could handle all those negative emotions, the candle of peace will glow brightly; giving you the light necessary to make important decisions that will have a long-term effect on your daily peace and your relationships; and will open the door to lasting peace.
Seek peace and you will find it. That’s a promise.
God bless,
www.findingperaonalpeace.com
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