Not really - at least, it shouldn't be :) There's enough going on on this end of the screen that should lead to stress. But, c'mon. It's Christmas. I don't mean that in a gushy feel all good inside kind of way. Rather, it's a Jesus has come and entered into this madness and brings shalom with him . . . yeah, that kind of way.
When I say to people that I have this sense of inner peace in outwordly crazy situations, I don't mean that there is never conflict. I don't mean that I never experience frustration, that I am somehow removed from the chaos around me. I'm going to rely on the words of my good friend Mike (another blog you should all check out ), because he says what I'm trying to say, and there is no sense re-inventing the wheel . . .
Shalom, peace, is more than lack of conflict, armed or otherwise. It is the reconciliation of all things, the "making right" of things. This shalom, this peace on earth to men, takes so much more in scope than a simple (ha) elimination of war. This peace is the peace of Christ, the prince of peace, whose reign is that about which we read. Peace on earth does not speak of kind feelings only, but about obedience to the highest power, about glory to God, and about submission to the reign that brings peace.
(Taken from Mike's recent post on "Peace on Earth . . . check it out at http://theo-blogy.blogspot.com/)
You see, with this peace, this calm, there is purpose. I am not calm in this place in the world solely for myself, but because shalom is so desperately needed. I just finished watching Pay It Forward, which SHOULD have cracked that recent top ten list (taking V for Vendetta's place, probably . . . ). And every time I watch it, which isn't too often, I think about how much one person can do. I think about how Jesus' revolution got started, and how it is at its core a very grassroots thing . . . how it's not about lofty ideals and sweeping proclamations that are somehow so set in stone.
Life is messy, and we do ourselves no favours by ignoring this or pretending it to be otherwise. I talked to my dad today, seconds after opening a package from him for Christmas . . . and it hasn't been an easy ride, reconnecting with my dad, and there have been bumps along the way, but it's worth it . . it's messy at times, it's hard, and it took every ounce of strength and courage I had to enter into it, but I'm so very glad I did.
I talked to my mom today before that, and we've had our rough patches. I have said things to her in the past I didn't mean, I've brushed her off when I really wanted to tell her how much she means to me . . . and sometimes, when I feel she doesn't think I can handle life on my own, I try to shut her out. But I love my mom so very much, and I miss her the most around Christmas.
I used to have these bold ideas about changing the world, about making some kind of huge difference in the lives of total strangers - yet I would exert precious little emotional energy with my own flesh and blood. Maybe it's easier to show love to a stranger - it takes a bit of courage, sure, but not nearly as much as it does to live with family, to be vulnerable and let people love you even though they know who you really are. And for me, that's part of where this shalom finds its source. My family has a messed up past, and we're not perfect people. But there is a sense of peace when you enter the French household, not because we're so great, but because a great God is at work, redeeming our dark places. And from this, I can go into other dark places and be a part of that redeeming and reconciling . . . and so can you.
Shall we?
Shalom, peace, is more than lack of conflict, armed or otherwise. It is the reconciliation of all things, the "making right" of things. This shalom, this peace on earth to men, takes so much more in scope than a simple (ha) elimination of war. This peace is the peace of Christ, the prince of peace, whose reign is that about which we read. Peace on earth does not speak of kind feelings only, but about obedience to the highest power, about glory to God, and about submission to the reign that brings peace.
(Taken from Mike's recent post on "Peace on Earth . . . check it out at http://theo-blogy.blogspot.com/)
You see, with this peace, this calm, there is purpose. I am not calm in this place in the world solely for myself, but because shalom is so desperately needed. I just finished watching Pay It Forward, which SHOULD have cracked that recent top ten list (taking V for Vendetta's place, probably . . . ). And every time I watch it, which isn't too often, I think about how much one person can do. I think about how Jesus' revolution got started, and how it is at its core a very grassroots thing . . . how it's not about lofty ideals and sweeping proclamations that are somehow so set in stone.
Life is messy, and we do ourselves no favours by ignoring this or pretending it to be otherwise. I talked to my dad today, seconds after opening a package from him for Christmas . . . and it hasn't been an easy ride, reconnecting with my dad, and there have been bumps along the way, but it's worth it . . it's messy at times, it's hard, and it took every ounce of strength and courage I had to enter into it, but I'm so very glad I did.
I talked to my mom today before that, and we've had our rough patches. I have said things to her in the past I didn't mean, I've brushed her off when I really wanted to tell her how much she means to me . . . and sometimes, when I feel she doesn't think I can handle life on my own, I try to shut her out. But I love my mom so very much, and I miss her the most around Christmas.
I used to have these bold ideas about changing the world, about making some kind of huge difference in the lives of total strangers - yet I would exert precious little emotional energy with my own flesh and blood. Maybe it's easier to show love to a stranger - it takes a bit of courage, sure, but not nearly as much as it does to live with family, to be vulnerable and let people love you even though they know who you really are. And for me, that's part of where this shalom finds its source. My family has a messed up past, and we're not perfect people. But there is a sense of peace when you enter the French household, not because we're so great, but because a great God is at work, redeeming our dark places. And from this, I can go into other dark places and be a part of that redeeming and reconciling . . . and so can you.
Shall we?
I was reading your blog today just before going to sleep, It is after 2 am in my part of the world.
ReplyDeleteI think my normal day is like that of any younger man as you. A job, (for which God must be praised for enough) and a kingdom. Space, place, whatever you may call it.
I do not intend to write about the job or the kingdom, the better ignored.
One time two friends of mine Mike and Krista took me to a birthday party of their friend, she was called Sarah.
I never got her second name. But I remember after the party, which was held at Bowness Park in Calgary, me along with Sarah's father and husband played American football, the first time I learnt about the sport.
Sarah's father approached me after he saw I was clearly looking misplaced at the party, he asked me about myself, we talked about the children that were playing and I thanked him and said:
"It takes courage for a man to walk up to and speak to a stranger, (man) and I mean speak."
Sarah's father said: "It is a blessing not courage."
I don't know why, but after reading your post I was reminded of that incident.
And I know too well too that it takes strength to write about his family in a very honest and yet objective manner.
I am reading a book titled Simply Christian by W.N. Wright, among so many things that I have come to learn in this book is the idea that I have always stated and believed that God is so complicated, I cannot figure him out, he just created me and really loves me, he lives me enough to let me take care of business without bothering.
Sometimes, this belief has gone to the extent of 'TELLING MYSLEF' MAYBE the guy is not there even. But then I think twice about the other things that one can believe in in the world as it is. So many things I fail to explain, and in my mind, I know the world is too complex to have just come as books say.
But deep inside me, I always refer to God as a some close friend, someone seated besides me, in private I believe in him, but outside I put on a drama of sorts.
Anyhow, this book as led me to another idea and that is "If I think, as a person I am very complicated or sophisticated then I must expect the secret guy I speak to to be even more complicated than I think I am.