Part One

Part Two

A little more about Paul and what he has to say about praying ceaselessly ~ to the Thessalonians. And me. I figure, scripture scholar that I'm not, would like you, dear reader, to take it with a grain of salt.

What does it mean to keep peace with one another?  Well.  I'm not certain exactly, but I do know I am reasonably good at not keeping peace with others.  In fact, I spent the better part of my day today, for example, not keeping peace.  Being kind of mad and kind of grumpy and kind of short with everyone who crossed my path.  Unfortunately my path today was spent entirely at home, so betcha you can guess the whos who felt the brunt of my not keeping peace.

I find it profoundly uncomfortable to be saying this to y'all.  This I know.  Every time I say, okay God...you got my attention.  I am ready to grow in some way that you are revealing to me (this time through Paul).  And it is going to be hard.  And I am going to be challenged.  And temptations will be tossed my way like locusts in the desert.

So here I am, trying to practice praying always.  Knowing I am fully inadequate to do this thing.  Experiencing the irony of faith: 
"Do this thing which you are not able to do on your own."

To the point: keeping peace with one another. 

I cannot keep peace for another.  I must keep peace in me.  I cannot change another's thoughts or behaviours or actions.  I can only change my thoughts, behaviours or actions.  Therefore, keeping peace with the others, whichever others I should come into contact within my hour and day and week and life, requires me to keep peace with me.

It brings to mind why babies and small children and the elderly and the and the very holy and the simple and pets, even, bring out the best in human kind.  They are innocent.  The have nothing to prove.  They are not vying for something from us.  They lack intent.  They just are in the present.  No agenda.  They are easy to keep peace with, because they rarely challenge our peace in any direct way.  They bring out the best in us because they are peaceful.

And we are reminded in that moment that they are in, that we can be peaceful.  At peace.

Keeping peace with one another.  It is hard work.  It's going to take focus and prayer.  Ceaseless prayer so that I am not caught off guard.