Thoughts: People are trying to find peace in this world. It leads to the Never-satisfying itch of consumerism. The idea of consumerism- is that it is all about my finding peace in myself. The common way to try to find it is through buying things. But things do not satisfy forever. The rich must give it up. Another step in the same direction is education . Education, we are told alleviates poverty. But what we are finding today is that some of the wealthiest institutions are the universities fueled on the backs of the poor buying lottery tickets that fund scholarships; or fueled on the backs of student loans borrowed from the government paid back at tremendous rates. In the end educational pride can steal our soul away or we may give away our education when dementia or death hit. Education is so highly thought of but it is another way to define consumerism and a tremendous human effort to find peace on earth. But smart people can be smart selfish people, or smart sinful people- to the point that we believe we can judge God or judge religion as being less sophisticated and civilized as the life we design (forgetting the pride design of the Nazis or Soviets),
Truth is our education only makes our sin that much more sophisticated. Now we have nuclear weapons. When we look at an Iran heading toward nuclear armament, and a North Korea already there, then we see the peace the world gives.
Buddhism seeks above all peace- nirvana. But it is achieved at the cost of avoiding real love- the elimination of desire. Desire is not the same as consumerism. Desire is a God given trait that can help us love our spouse, our children, others. All religions seek peace. But Jesus says in this world we will still have trouble or tribulation. Yet, in the midst of such pessimism toward the limitations of the world is an undeterred optimism that cannot be squished. We can be of good cheer for Christ has overcome the world. The worst the world could offer was to put the Maker on a torture mechanism- the cross. But He overcame the worst of the world and can help us overcome our trouble/tribulation here.
We hear of trouble in Iran, South Sudan, Nigeria, North Korea, Syria, Ukraine, Gaza/Israel. We should pray and work for the peace of the world. But true peace begins with the hope of the soul, and the cheerfulness of eternity in the face of the temporary. We can have peace not because things go our way, or we are wealthy, or we are not at war. The peace of God goes beyond such surface things. True peace begins with believing the Prince of Peace has overcome the world!
Truth is our education only makes our sin that much more sophisticated. Now we have nuclear weapons. When we look at an Iran heading toward nuclear armament, and a North Korea already there, then we see the peace the world gives.
Buddhism seeks above all peace- nirvana. But it is achieved at the cost of avoiding real love- the elimination of desire. Desire is not the same as consumerism. Desire is a God given trait that can help us love our spouse, our children, others. All religions seek peace. But Jesus says in this world we will still have trouble or tribulation. Yet, in the midst of such pessimism toward the limitations of the world is an undeterred optimism that cannot be squished. We can be of good cheer for Christ has overcome the world. The worst the world could offer was to put the Maker on a torture mechanism- the cross. But He overcame the worst of the world and can help us overcome our trouble/tribulation here.
We hear of trouble in Iran, South Sudan, Nigeria, North Korea, Syria, Ukraine, Gaza/Israel. We should pray and work for the peace of the world. But true peace begins with the hope of the soul, and the cheerfulness of eternity in the face of the temporary. We can have peace not because things go our way, or we are wealthy, or we are not at war. The peace of God goes beyond such surface things. True peace begins with believing the Prince of Peace has overcome the world!
Prayer: Lord, give me peace not from making my selfish soul satisfied- but by changing my soul from selfishness to otherness.
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