Peace Of Mind

This is a truthful quote about peace of mind from Richard Rohr's daily on-line meditations, sent on October 30, 2014.

"Great religion tries to free individuals from the tyranny of their small and fragile selves and introduce them to Someone-They-Can-Trust. Only if you trust such a “Someone” will you eventually know that you do not have to create all the patterns nor do you have to solve all the problems. You are in fact being guided.

Also, you do not have to explain the failures or take responsibility for the fixing. Finally you know you are part of “the general dance,” as Merton calls it. What else would be the beginnings of peace? As long as you think you've got to fix everything, control everything, explain everything, and understand everything, you will never be a peaceful person. These things largely happen by endless ruminating and commentaries in the mind, which are usually negative."  (Adapted from Dancing Standing Still: Healing the World from a Place of Prayer, pp. 75-76)

Too many of us think we can work, think, plan, organize, etc. ourselves into peace of mind.  Peace of mind occurs when we give up, trusting that we will be in the gracious, merciful and lovingly care of God.  We will still have some work to do, especially on ourselves, as well as some thinking, planning, organizing, etc. but, it will not be the labor that is trying to control. Rather, we will discover the gift of peace, Shalom.