Pausing for Peace
By Kathy Sievert
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. (John 14:27)
In the frenzy leading up to Christmas when I’m consumed by my to-do list--shopping to finish, presents to wrap, packages to mail, parties to plan, dinners to host, gatherings and events to attend, the tree and house to decorate, cookies to bake, Christmas cards to write - I forget about God’s nearness and the true gift of this season. It’s easy to be swallowed up by anxiety and discouragement, knowing I’ll never complete all these preparations. And I wonder is it even the right way to get ready for Christmas? Have I become too distracted by mundane activities? Am I too busy to be aware of God?
The other day I found my stash of Christmas cards. I bought several boxes last year during the post-Christmas sales. Every single card design I selected seemed like a whisper from God: “Wishing you the blessing of Peace at Christmas and always.” “Peace on Earth.” “May peace and gratitude be yours this Christmas and throughout the year.”
I took a deep breath. Peace is more than an absence of conflict; peace is an attitude toward life. The prophet Isaiah tells us that those who trust God have peace. (Is 26:3) Jesus, the Prince of Peace, gives us inner peace and a way to have peace with others. I can’t avoid all the troubles, conflicts and difficulty in my life, but I can choose to trust God, to open my heart and feel God’s presence in the concern and compassion, in the simple pleasures and quiet moments, in nature’s beauty and the kindness around me. I can choose to be at peace by asking myself some questions: What does all this holiday busyness really mean? What do I need to release and give to God? Why is so hard for me to pause and accept God’s peace? What happens when I stop and turn toward the Prince of Peace?
It’s easy to feel hopeless about the possibility of peace on earth and inner peace. Yet all around us, there are clues to cultivating a peaceful spirit. When I take the time to really listen to the words of the Christmas carol “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day” based on Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s 1863 poem, I discover a path to peace. In the lyrics, someone hears the bells pealing
more loud and deep:
God is not dead, nor does God sleep,
For Christ is here; His spirit near
Brings peace on earth, good will to men.
The carol concludes with a call to faith to overcome the darkness.
Oh, hear God’s voice, and turn from sin.
The Prince of Peace then enters in,
And grace imparts within their hearts
His peace on earth, good will to men.
I’m setting aside my to-do list for a while to reflect on this mystery. God is with us. I will quietly marvel at the birth of the Prince of Peace and what it means for the world.
God of Peace, Emmanuel, God with us, help me to slow down and open my heart so I can rest in your presence and know your peace in these times of global turmoil and personal distress. Amen
St. John member Kathy Sievert is a Stephen Minister.