Finding Peace Amidst the World’s Contention
In recent years, I’ve been a voice, calling out what I see is illogical or unjust in the world. But keeping up with current events was making my blood pressure high and causing anxiety and sleeplessness. Obviously, the way I was handling things wasn’t working for me. How could I hope for peace in the world if I had no inner peace?
This led me on a quest for the peace that passes all understanding that Christ promises. That led me to praying for the pure love of Christ to fill my heart. I’ve been pleading with Him to change my heart and mind to see as He sees and love as He loves.
I’m a work in progress, but this is my goal… to give others the benefit of the doubt, to seek to see where they are coming from, to listen with a desire to understand. And sometimes that means seeing that another person isn’t ready to bring that same desire to understand and love to the table. In such cases, I wish them well as they pursue their own path.
I try not to judge myself or anyone else by who they are in the middle of their hero’s journey. I believe Christ sees us as we can be in time and not who we are today. Today we’re still learning, stumbling and finding our way. I ask Him to help me see others the way He does.
As I’ve done this, I’ve noticed a shift in my heart to more peace, more acceptance of the current moment, and more hope for the future.
The Gift of Peace Laced Within the Turmoil
The thought has come to me that perhaps this is the gift of so much venom, anger, conflict and contention in the world. There will be some who realize this is not healthy mentally, spiritually, or emotionally. They will seek for answers, and in seeking those answers perhaps they will be led to Christ … the only one who can change our hearts and minds to find the peace that passes all understanding.
The more I pursue this path, the more I see a world of people who are hurt, wounded, and afraid. They feel their values are under attack, and they have extrapolated fearful outcomes in their minds’ eye. No wonder they lash out! No wonder they fight back! They feel like wounded animals trapped in a corner. It’s happening everywhere. And I just feel sad for them. Their lashing out isn’t about me. It’s about their own pain… pains that only Christ can help them heal.
What about you? Has the world’s vitriol and chaos made you look inward more? Has it prompted you to work on your own ability to find inner peace? What have you learned in seeking to love as Christ does?
