Printable PDF of Today’s Reflection 

Many people live their lives in chaos; drama follows them wherever they go. During the second week of Advent we have an opportunity to focus on Peace, an inner peace that comes from resting in the awareness that God is here and the kingdom of heaven is near. Peace is difficult to attain in this fast-paced world in which we live, especially during this season when we are hustling and bustling to have a “Merry Christmas” – or to provide one for someone else!

It is ironic that we seek to welcome “The Prince of Peace” in this frenetic, anxious way! Perhaps there is a better way. Paul seems to think so, for in his letter to the Thessalonians (1 Thessalonians 4:1-12)  he advocates for us to aspire to live quietly (vs.11) What does this mean for us today, to live quietly.  I think the Fourth Step of Al-Anon/AA’s Twelve Step program can help us here.

The Fourth Step instructs us to “take a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.” In fact, the whole Twelve Step program is designed to help those exhibiting addictive behaviors (we all have them), to focus on our own behaviors and determine how those behaviors have – or have not – helped us to maintain a sense of internal serenity and peace. Paul seems to be advocating for this kind of attitude.

Fourth Step work involves being asked a series of questions on various traits of character that help us identify the behaviors that result in poor communication and dysfunctional relationships. Gratitude, intimacy, values, trust, guilt, control, and honesty are just a few of topics designed to get us to know ourselves better. They help us recognize and rejoice in the things we do well, and also to begin to acknowledge those broken parts of ourselves that need healing. The questions are designed to help us see how our own actions have contributed to the problems in our relationships. Going through this process helps reveal some of our own actions that may have affected our relationships with others and, as a consequence, our inner peace and serenity.

 Paul’s closing words affirm that we have been taught by God to love one another; and they encourage us to continue to love one another more and more. They tell us to aspire to live quietly in order to do that, and finally they tell us why that is so important: so that you may behave properly toward outsiders and be dependent on no one.

This seems to be what the Fourth Step Inventory is also advocating: work on yourself, see where your errors lie – for Christians this means to identify where your actions are not in line with Jesus instructions – and amend your ways. Forgive as much as you can, seek forgiveness when doing so does not cause more harm to another, and let the rest go.

Continuing our work to aspire to live quietly is a lifelong task toward holiness, wholeness, serenity and peace. As we seek the Prince of Peace during this holy season, may we aspire to live quietly, loving one another as we have been taught by God, and resting in the awareness that God is here and the kingdom of heaven is near.  Amen.

Rev. Wendy Depew Partelow is a retired pastor and serves on the American Baptist Churches of New York State Board of Missions.

Submitted: December 5, 2022
Image altered: Original Image by Ildigo from Pixabay.