Will it matter this time next year? That’s the question I’ve been asking in relation to the politically colourful Mr. Peters. Actually, more to the point, will it matter in a couple of months?
Now if I were to consider political policy on social spending, that would be an issue that will matter this time next year. And it will matter to a lot of people.
Because I enjoy reading the news I am constantly surprised how tantalizing but irrelevant information clogs my mind. Likewise, I can allow similar mind binding material to bung up my worldview from inane events during the day. It’s a common experience, though the details may differ from person to person.
Someone might make a negative passing comment, we lose our keys, your spouse or child does something irritating or your boss has a bad day. We can lose sleep over these things.
The question is, will they matter in a year? If you were to put the incident twelve months in to the future, would you still throw your toys out of the cot in the present? Probably not.
If we can see things as insignificant from a distance, why do we imprison ourselves with them in the present? Why do we go red in the face and grow horns when they turn up?
The answer to this question has evaded me because the real answer is probably complex. But I wonder if the simple and general answer is that we don’t live with peaceful hearts.
The reality for most people is that “normal” has become rather stressful. For the majority of New Zealanders there’s little buffer between holding it together and losing it altogether. All to often we say and do things that we immediately regret. We obsess about things that we know are of no great importance and will pass quickly. We look at our responses and wonder whether we are becoming psychotic. Most likely we’re not, but obsession about the irrelevant is a sign that our lives are on the edge of spiraling out of control.
Stress is a strange thing because it’s not always tangible. The unemployed can be under greater stress than a busy, wealthy executive. Likewise a person living in abject poverty can be more at peace in the world than a comfortable and secure westerner.
Having a peaceful heart is not related to circumstance, it’s a decision, a decision that goes to the root of our lives - the place from which we draw hope and security.
In the Old Testament God invited people in to his “rest”, a place of anxiety free living. In the New Testament the same theme erupts - trust in God brings unfathomable peace even in chaos.
Seeing things for what they are is a great way of reducing unnecessary stress. But the ultimate path is to trust in God who ultimately holds everything together. That way we can face what is truly important, not only with peaceful hearts, but with clear minds.