How do I Find Peace in Our Chaotic World

“The hearts of most will grow cold at the end of the age.”
Matthew 24

My family and I love going to the beach. I think most of us find some form of tranquility while watching the water move in a precise rhythmic pattern. The sights, sounds and smells often evoke warm memories for us.
Our lives are like those rhythmic waves. There is a pattern in our lives if we are astute enough to perceive it.

We use the word ebb and flow to describe the recurrent pattern of coming and going and of decline and growth. That idiom is also used in reference to tidal systems. Our emotional health is also linked to an ebb and flow pattern which is easy to upset. Good discernment on our part is a necessary component for spiritual and emotional wellbeing. 

We have witnessed a recurring theme of hostility and anger in our nation. The 24-hour news cycle and access to superfluous social media postings creates a dichotomy between the ebb and flow of our spiritual health and the vitriol we see on television and in social media. Having peace while staying connected to the world of information are mutually exclusive events. They cannot occur together.

When Jesus was in ministry on earth he often disconnected himself from the chaos around him. We read about him getting up early or walking on top of a mountain. Sometimes he was up late at night. I think we understand the lesson from scripture but we often do not apply it.
If you want peace, you must make time for it.

We are not built for a 24-7 barrage of words and hostilities that is played out each day in social media and via the various news outlets. When we as individuals cannot find our center we begin to lose our way. When that happens the slightest negative experience becomes the tipping point for us and we react. I recall the story of Jesus entering the Temple and overturning the tables of the money changers. It’s possible that Jesus reached his tipping point and exploded at the injustice he saw.  However, Jesus was normally quite composed.

We must remember that Christ was fully human and he was not immune from feeling overwhelmed just like you and me. Jesus made his solitary time with his Father a priority and we can do the same thing.
Christ was not a man that saturated himself in secular activities. Jesus moved in and out of societal stresses. His life reflected a perfectly balanced ebb and flow which we need to mimic now more than ever.

In my spirit I sense this great danger for us as followers of Christ. We as faith filled Catholics need to find the time to disconnect. It is not a matter of responsibility; it is a matter of spiritual life or death. Some of the ways we can apply Jesus’ habits to our own lives include the following.

• Shut everything off at least 3-4 times a week. Trust me you are not going to miss much.
• On occasion leave your phone at home. It is very liberating.
• Drive your car in silence.
• Find a quiet place to reflect. I personally love walking in cemeteries. You gain a great perspective there.
• Don’t take on too much. If you are so busy that you cannot rest you will never sense that ebb and flow of life. You’ll wonder, why you’re so stressed. We need to live in balance. That means time for work, time for pleasure, and most importantly time for silence.
• Be sensitive to your inner self and learn to cultivate peace. If that means disconnecting from certain situations, then try to do that as needed.
• Most importantly develop a relationship with your Father. Have a word with him and those words will become ongoing conversations.

You were made for peace not for strife.