The
place that I work is not peaceful. I would suppose that in nobody's
workplace does peace really abound. That's why they call it “work”.
I guess since the nature of “work” is to deliver a product or
provide a service, somebody on each side always wants a little more
for a little less.
Where
I work, the customer is someone with an illness of the heart or mind
shopping for peace. Their “real world” is one distorted by delusions,
hallucinations, anxiety, mood disorders or cognitive
disorganization. This sends them in search of medication,
psychotherapy, treatment plans, groups, counseling and just plain
friendship and support to help them move beyond their feelings and
beliefs to function comfortably and happily and safely in society.
Daily, every mood from hopeless depression or crippling anxiety to
mania, anger or outrageous grandiosity swirl around our office.
Sometimes, even we the so-called “normal” become vulnerable to
unexpected moods or views and our own environment becomes temporarily
disorganized, chaotic and unsafe. So no... there is no peace.
I
have come to realize that this is a “real world” exercise in
understanding what Jesus meant when He said, “Peace I leave with
you.” The Bible says that the God of Peace sent Jesus, the Prince
of Peace to create a Covenant of Peace and teach a Gospel of Peace.
I'm learning.... excruciatingly slowly it seems ... that (just like
he said) Jesus IS my peace. Peace is not a goal, it's a realm, and
it can be my “real world”. It's a realm where I live and operate
in love and am delivered from ideas of self-protection or fear. It's
a realm where I don't work at being a peacemaker. Where I am just a
peace carrier. Where my “work” is to accept Jesus' gift of peace
with myself and just live there.
It's
very hard work to enter into rest. There's a whole lot to let go of
to get there. But whenever I AM there, even for brief moments,
life is surprisingly easy. And whenever I am there...... I can pass
it on.
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