When we think of the word 'peaceful' we imagine some still water with beautiful reflections of countryside and no wind; it's a stillness that is unruffled. The word 'peace' comes up rather a lot in the Bible. Jesus is described as the 'Prince of Peace'. He says to his disciples, "Peace be with you", and says that the peace that he gives is different to anything the world has to offer. So what is peace?
In some of the traditional films about the life of Christ, Jesus is portrayed as a quiet person with big searching eyes who looks rather sad most of the time, and when he speaks it is very slowly and deliberately. Where is the partying Jesus, who loved sharing meals and laughing with people, and where is the passionate Jesus who was white hot with anger when he saw the Temple being used as a place of extorting money from the poor? Did Jesus lose his peace at these times?
I think the peace that God wants us to have is more to do with the Hebrew word 'shalom' which means more than just peacefulness, but a wholeness of person, a completeness and prosperity of life. So we don't have to look like we're in a trance all the time.... we can laugh and cry, jump and yell and still keep our inner 'shalom'. And it's about being comfortable in our own skin and accepting ourselves for who we are.
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