Peace And Struggle

SUN., FEB. 1, 1987, 6:12 AM
FARM, STUDY

It is a cool winter morning, and I am here to offer you some words about peace. I pair this important word with “struggle” to form a sort of yin/yang relationship. Peace is desirable, certainly, but every desirable condition should have its balance. I don’t offer the pejorative term “war” or “conflict”, but, instead, “struggle”. So be at peace, o son, but acknowledge that you also struggle with this assignment.

Peace and struggle are different from one another, but I present them as complements. To be at peace is to be accepting of conditions as they are… truly accepting. If you wish them to be different, even as you do nothing to achieve a change, you are moving away from peace and toward at least some internal struggle. When struggle itself seems foolish, peace may then become the dominant feeling.

Peace and struggle each have spiritual connotations, and each are vital characteristics of earth life. If peace were the more desirable state why would I rouse you to struggle with this process? So that the written words and ideas can reinforce the peace that comes from knowing that your hand is truly in Mine. Your development is not such that you feel this assurance, no matter what. So some bit of struggle results in a more real peace.

In the realm of politics and military might these complements certainly vie with one another. Though your country is technically at peace now, there is much struggle to maintain your dominant position and to maintain the “freedom” which your culture prizes. This persistent, underlying struggle can break out into conflict and even escalate to war. Yet the desire for peace and to ease up in the struggles is always seeking to return to dominance. Peace provokes struggle, and struggle calls out for peace.

You have had a good and active professional life. For most of this time you have felt a peace in knowing that you were well prepared in a worthy field this is right for you. At the same time you have struggled to achieve, struggled with the best use of time…and with decisions about what to do and not do. Though you have the peace that should come with achievement and recognition you still struggle with… yes… to what extent you should still struggle. And, of course, I do encourage that struggle with My recommendations that you continue to be an active professional.

Another arena is that of economics and money. I say to you… be at peace with your place in life, for I shall provide for your needs. Yet the demands of various kinds for your income and substance continue, and you seem forced to struggle with decisions and payments. In this realm I still push for peace. You needn’t struggle as much as you do.

Now, importantly, the very nature of the Christian gospel is one of balance between peace and struggle… in the form of grace and My teachings, as Jesus, about how life should be lived. It is a struggle to keep the Commandments, to love as you are called to love, to give of yourself in many ways. When that feeling builds, the complement is grace, which says that whatever you do, you’re accepted., so be in perfect peace. Until My words jostle you into struggle again.