Peace I Leave With You

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid. ~ John 14:27

Can we have peace in the midst of discomfort? 

Peace comes with presence. Think about times when you have felt most anxious. Where was the seed of that anxiety? It is likely you will trace it back to your mind's attempt to place you in the space between now and what's to come. Anxiety is a future-oriented emotion. 

The displacement that anxiety brings makes it particularly suited for times of discomfort. When I'm uncomfortable with what's going on, I want out.  

Context is everything. The Scripture verse above comes from the Last Supper discourses. Jesus knew discomfort was coming for himself and his disciples. His gift--the balm he offered to soothe them in the pain that was near--was peace. Not the world's peace, but Spirit.

Spirit is fire and breath and wind moving in us and through us in this moment and the next and the next. When we let go of fear and allow ourselves to be, Spirit brings us peace--even in the discomfort. 

"Ultimately, we have just one moral duty: to reclaim large areas of peace in ourselves, more and more peace, and to reflect it toward others. And the more peace there is in us, the more peace there will also be in our troubled world."    ~Etty Hillesum, An Interrupted Life