Seeking Peace - Notes and Conversations along the Way - Plough

SEEkINg PEACEthe time left until his release, forever living in the future.When I began to live in the moment – not for release, noteven for the next meal or movie or chance to sleep – it becamepossible for me to be at peace even in prison.Years later, during a diffcult period of struggle in his personallife, Doug found new meaning in prayer. “In placeof all the usual ways to escape discouragement or depression,prayer – in the simple sense of turning to God andmy neighbor in love – became the foundation for a lastingpeace and a purpose in living.” Now, as he enters old age,Doug says that his personal prayer life has taken on animportance it never had in earlier years.Regular prayer with my wife, or alone – morning, noon, bedtime,and when I lie awake at night – has become a lifeline,the only help in the face of the inevitable failures, temptations,discouragements, or periods of depression that each ofus goes through at one time or another.It is not always a matter of words. Part of it is a quietturning toward God throughout the day, an upward glance,a moment or two of silence remembering someone who issick or suffering or struggling. Part of it might be consideringvarious concerns and questions of the day. Part of it is askingfor light to see my wrongs, to recognize where I might havehurt others. Prayer helps me strengthen my commitment toChrist and to my brothers and sisters. In all of this there ispeace – not as the world gives, but the peace of Jesus.Karl Barth once wrote that to clasp one’s hands in prayeris the beginning of an uprising against the disorder of theworld. If this is true, and I believe it is, then our prayerlife cannot exist in a separate sphere, and our prayers mustconsist of more than longings or intentions. Just as faithwithout deeds means spiritual deadness, so prayer withoutwork is hypocrisy. Even without deeds, our prayers must90