I was shocked when I realized I hadn't posted in a year. This raises two important points. First, why does anyone need a blog, anyway? Second, why did no one say, "I sure miss your blog posts. Where have you been?" I think the answer is that a blog is mostly for the benefit of the blogger, a way to vent a little, or to create your own little pulpit, even if nobody is listening.
Today is the one year anniversary of my last post. The easy explanation for the hiatus is that I've just been too busy. Dr. C., my former business partner, ran away from home about a year ago. He moved his practice to the other end of the state for reasons that are still not quite clear to me. As a result, the work load jumped up and spare time for silly little things like blog posts just disappeared.
A more complex explanation is that I went through a period where I lost my peace. I read somebody's quote that peace is not absence of trouble and conflict, but rather inner calm in spite of trouble and conflict. Now, don't think that I went off the deep end or anything, but I think I lost that inner calm for a while. I let the inner turbulence of stress churn around for several months.
It is Advent season again and the host of angels would like to crank up their old song, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests." The incarnation of Jesus Christ was all about peace. He made a way for us to have peace with God, peace with other people, and even peace over that inner turbulence.
Paul the Apostle clearly explains about peace with God. "Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God." (Romans 5:1-2) Through grace we stand in a new place where our broken relationship with God has been repaired and peace restored.
Peace with other people is a little more tricky. You may try to have peaceful relations with others, but some of the responsibility is on them. The author of Hebrews wrote, "Make every effort to live at peace with everyone and to be holy . . ." (Heb 11:14) I think that as long as we live on this side of eternity we will struggle to get along with friends, family, and even those people in the church that rub us the wrong way. The same grace that provides peace with God can also overflow into those human relationships.
Finally, there is the possibility of inner, personal peace.
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me--put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you." (Philippians 4:6-9)
My Advent prayer for everyone is that the God of peace will supply the peace that each of us needs. That might include repairing a relationship with him. Or maybe he can help us find peace instead of a grudge with someone else. And most of all that we can find that inner peace that transcends all understanding.
