Conversations with God: peace
Posted: Monday, October 11, 2010
by Eve Pekkala
I talked to God yesterday
we talk about stuff
sometimes he rides in the car with me
and sometimes he comes over after work
I'm tired so I usually lie down
and He ....you know...
he sort of just hovers around in the air
Its a God thing.
So, anyway we were talking
and He asked how
"my lesson?", I asked
" yes, the big one , you know, the one on Love, the main point", said God
" oh, yeah. Love. Well, not so great. In fact, I was just thinking...
maybe dropping the whole love thing from my program wouldn't be a bad idea"
"hmmm... really. Why is that?"
"well, let's face it ,the whole endeavor is just impossible, I can't be that nice all the time"
"Nice? why do you think love has to do with being nice all the time"
" from your own instructions. Hey, I read the manual... And it says:
The definition of Love is: patience, kindness, non-rude, non-boasting, humble, no-envy,
not all-about-me,long fuse, not resentful, doesn't get off on evil, adores good,
makes a habit of protecting, believing, trusting and hoping.
that's in 1 Corinthians 13 by the by
see? I've got it down, know it. The short version is
always be nice to others"
"Well, that's an interesting interpretation.. How's that working for you?"
" not so well, that's why I thought that maybe we could drop it from my life-destiny-program thing.
I just don't have the feel for it, so maybe i could go with something that make more sense for me...
Maybe politeness with optional sincerity"
" I see. I will keep that in mind. But first let's talk about nice. what is nice?"
"Nice is when you think about how others feel, and you take care that their feeling always stay in the "comfortable" range"
"Interesting."
"Uh-huh. Yes, and if you think that anything you say might upset them, then you do not say it."
' I see. the keep-silent-to-keep-peace strategy"
" well, sort of, except you are not doing it because you are trying to keep your peace you are doing it for their sake, to keep their peace"
" and you are "keeping their peace" because ...why?"
" well, because that's what Paul told the Ephesians, chapter 4:3 " make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace"
" Ah, Paul... he was very good with dividing my Word, always so precise."
" Uh, yeah..."
" But tell me now, I missed the part where he said "make every effort to preserve the unity of people's feelings through the bond of peace"
" well... he didn't exactly say that but..."
" he didn't, did he.... so what did he say to preserve?"
" Uh,... the unity of the Spirit."
"Mmm hmm. that's a little different. What exactly did my Son tell you about the Spirit"
" Well John said in chapter 14:15-17 that it was the Spirit of truth, Christ's spirit, that would lead us to all truth."
" And did He say anything about the spirit preserving the tender feelings of the world?"
" mmm.. no, actually he said the world wouldn't accept him. In chapter 3:19 he said the reason was because the world loved darkness instead"
" I see... so, the world wants to preserve, what... feelings that make them comfortable? "
" I guess..."
" and these comfortable feelings would only be comfortable if their world view was supported?"
"uh... yeah"
" and they prefer a view under cover of darkness, because their deeds are evil right?"
"that's true"
" so... how does supporting the unity of the Spirit equal supporting peoples feelings?"
" hmm, well I guess it doesn't"
" who is my Spirit?"
"Well, he is truth. So I guess Paul is saying we should support the unity of your truth"
" Right. "
But still Paul told the romans in 12:18 I f it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.
so how do I attain peace if i get their feelings all disrupted?"
" hmmmm.. now you are talking about peace."
" well, that was the second part of the instruction Paul gave the Ephesians: preserve unity through peace"
"Mmmmm... do you know what the hebrew word shalom means"?
" sure... its means peace
"Well, it really means "complete, perfect and full" that's what shalom means, which is the word the Hebrews used in the old testament which you now translate as "peace". But what does peace mean to you?"
" Peace is ...well.. its a restful, non-conflicted, general feeling of happy oneness with things, or at least a contented acceptance. you know where everyone wants the same thing and works towards the same goal"
" Huh...so what did Gideon, you know, one of my judges in the book of Judges, what did he mean when he said in chapter 8:9: “ When I come again in peace, I will break down this tower.
" Oh, well....hmmmm... "
" Yes, and When Isaiah talked about Christ in 53:3 he said he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed."
" Well, that's a little confusing..."
" was there anything in there about the preservation of feelings?"
"no, uh... no"
" So what is peace?"
" Alright, alright, "complete, perfect fullness" Well, in the New Testament they don't use shalom... so that's not really fair, they use eirene"
"which means....?"
" well, the Greek Christians used it in the context of "the way that leads to salvation", but it means pretty much the same thing as shalom:
complete wholeness that comes from the way of salvation
"right"
"Huh.. so when Christ says in John 14: 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. he is not talking about a warm fuzzy feeling?"
" well, think about it for a minute, what does he say right after that?"
"I do not give it to you as the world gives it to you"
" ah no... not exactly.
"OK,OK..."I do not give to you as the world gives"same thing"
"No. "
" NO?! ...Cheez, can we just take a second? my brain is starting to smoke here.
" (sigh) Look its pretty simple. Peace is the way of salvation, which is Christ,
Peace does not give to you the same way the world gives you things.
Understand?"
" sort of... well... not really."
"Christ is peace but Christ is not of this world, if you are his, then neither are you If y ou belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. (John15:19)
"OK... and"
" So the peace that comes to you as Christ will not look anything like something that the world gives"
" still, we will probably know it because it will feel sooo great right?"
" Ok, what does it say right after the part about not giving as the world gives?"
" Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."
"why would he put that in there if the peace of Christ was identifiable by the quality of your worldly feelings?"
" well.. Paul told the Philippians not to worry, that God would give them peace in their hearts if they prayed, so that is kind of like saying peace=peaceful feelings"
" So, remind me of that verse again?,
"' And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."( Philippians 4:7)
"so it says that peace, meaning Christ, the way of salvation, will guard your hearts and minds."
" yeah.. so .. what... when we pray, we trust that Christ is guarding our hearts and minds no matter what our feelings might be telling us. We are supposed to trust Him over our worldly feelings?"
" Very nice.. Your feelings will not indicate my peace, although my peace will at times bring calm feelings. So now let's go back to the beginning "
"Ok so I was wondering about the verse in Ephesians4: Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
"yes?"
"So it means make every effort to keep the unity of the Truth through the bond of the Way given to us through Christ? A Way that is not given in any way identifiable through the world? So feelings cannot identify it. So guarding others feelings may not be the same as keeping the unity of the Spirit?"
"There may still be hope for you yet."
" yes, but about the love thing..."
" Uh... maybe we better just stick with this for now. You are definitely off the milk, but you are still on baby food. Love is the serious meat of the Word. Better do more work building up your digestive system"
" digestive system? like dietary laws and stuff? You mean I should lay off catfish and not eat the unclean cloven hooves? Shrimp is out? Should I memorize Leviticus? Maybe start doing a special hand-washing thing like they used to?"
" (sigh)... it was a joke, Eve.... just a joke.
" A joke? Like the one Jacob played on Esau? cause that wasn't really funny. I mean...
"Eve?"
"yes, God?"
"It's enough for now. Like Paul told Timothy in his second letter: Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this. (2 timothy 4:7)"
"so just think on this?"
" yes, its like my good disciple John said in his 2nd letter : Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God. So, don't run ahead Eve, just stay close to me."
"and you will make sure I get it?"
" I will make sure you get it"
"right down to the love thing?"
"right down to the love thing"
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Top-level comments on this article: (1 total)The dialogue seeks to clarify matters that are intramural to religious belief and practice, so, as I myself am not at all religious, I'll leave it to others to comment on the substance of it. I do want to say that it is impressive to witness someone approach the question of how to live her life with such energy, earnestness, deep reflection, and self-criticism. For people who take seriously their belief in God---a God who created the universe, who created human beings in His image, and who has revealed Himself---surely nothing can be of more importance than determining God's plan for them. I think it is not too much to say that committed believers, by the very logic of their theism, must be substantially preoccupied with, and perhaps even relentless in pursuit of, the Divine Will. I catch a recognition of this rational necessity, and a surrender to it, in Eve's dialogue.
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