Lesson 105: God’s peace and joy are mine.
A friend came by yesterday with a gift – a cloth face mask with a little pouch to add a coffee filter or some other type of filter to protect myself from the coronavirus whenever I have to be out in public. There is, of course, a debate about how effective any of these homemade masks may be, but the gesture was huge. She drove across town with her special-needs daughter to make this delivery.
We socially distanced as we chatted about our lives under lockdown. This is the same person who, after I jokingly commented on Facebook about opening up my last package of toilet paper, made that same drive to deliver a fresh pack to my door. My friend deeply understands the message of today’s lesson – we cannot truly give unless we understand it is the same as receiving. My friend lost nothing by giving me the things I need. She has plenty of masks, plenty of toilet paper and plenty of other supplies she needs because she gives them away.
This is the law – if we are an open channel, passing along the things we receive to others in need, what we need keeps coming down that open channel. It’s only when we close the channel and hoard what comes our way that we begin to perceive lack. My friend knows as long as she is passing on what she has, she will never lack for what she needs.
If this is the law for material things, how much truer is it for peace and joy? If we truly want peace and joy, then we can’t ever think of them as a limited resource – or something that is dependent on what’s occurring around us. Peace and joy are ours. They are gifts given to us by the Holy that never run dry and never depend on whatever we perceive to be happening around us. God’s gifts are not like the limited, conditional “gifts” the ego bestows upon us that give us peace one minute and unrest the next.
To begin to dip into that bottomless well of joy and peace, this lesson advises us to start giving it away as quickly as possible. Think of someone, it recommends, that you have been withholding peace and joy from. This should be easy in today’s climate. There are so many people we are withholding our Love from during this time – blaming them for the problems we see around us.
Instead, this lesson recommends: “Think of your ‘enemies’ a little while, and tell each one, as he occurs to you: ‘My brother, peace and joy I offer you, that I may have God’s peace and joy as mine.'”
Remove all grievances around this person or persons. Sincerely offer them peace and joy, knowing that you are offering the same to yourself in that very moment. As you give, you will receive.
Hafiz says it is these kinds of words that will heal the world:
“Tilled ground the soft heart, and words
like these the seeds
“and words like these the water, and
words like these a sun.
“Beneath the surface of this game, behind
the veil, all is working on your behalf.
“Surely then you will rise up and embrace
what will make you most happy.”
Photo by Nick Fewings on Unsplash