Pilate despairingly posed the moot question to Jesus: ‘What is Truth?’ Some in our day would query similarly: ‘What is Peace?’ Oh sure, we are familiar with definitions written in dictionaries and the like, but for the ‘boots on the ground’ reality, how is it lived out, what does it feel like? How do you know peace? This is big time embarrassing because Jesus promised his peace, and not the wishy-washy type the world talks about, but real, substantial, gritty peace that will never be depleted, never go away. Ever. The peace Jesus walked in! Jiminy crickets, that sounds amazing!
What I’m realizing is that when we encounter this ‘information,’ we instantly begin developing a strategy to achieve it (or become depressed thinking there’s no way we have sufficient resources to get there – like right before the Calculus final). For many of us, there’s an ‘earn it’ cog in our brains that pushes us to resist gifts. Even when obviously pleased, we often add something like, ‘you shouldn’t have.’ So Jesus’ gift of his peace is just that, a gift. No work. No earn. No strings in sight. And he bequeaths it to all who love him. Because he loves us!
So, what are the signs that we ‘have’ fully received peace? I’m reminded of the old joke: ‘Why are you beating your head against the wall? Answer: ‘Because it feels so good when I stop.’ I get that. I get a tight feeling in my stomach before a doctor’s appointment. Leaving the appointment, there’s a lighter than air feeling in my stomach that urges ‘us’ to go for a milkshake (chocolate). I have a multitude of sensations running through my body when a police officer turns his lights on and pulls me over. When he just wants to alert me to a non-functioning brake light and leaves, wishing me a good day – time for a milkshake. When I was confronted with my appointment with a glass bubble suspended by a thread, called a mountain cable car in Grenoble, France, there was instant anxiety, lightheadedness, and a feeling of impending doom which was only relieved once back on terra firma (I understand why people want to kiss the ground after such death-defying situations – and buy milkshakes for everybody!). Those are evidences of peace returning. My body thanks me. My blood pressure returns to normal.
Here’s the rub: in order to know Jesus’ peace, I need to stop, reflect, check all rushing thoughts at the door, and wait for Jesus to speak. This may take some time. Time well spent to sync my soul with Jesus and live the moment with the awareness of his accompanying me. That, my friends, is peace. Ahh! PD
