February 12, 2017

Letter to the Editor

Dear Mr. Nathan Grimm,

                                                 How to enjoy God’s Peace      

     In our search for peace of mind let us not forget what it takes. There are things

about ourselves which we need to work on. For example, only when we learn how to

put up with ourselves can we hope for interior peace. The problem with the way each of

us relates to God is the fact that we sometimes seldom get outside of our own Selfishness.

     I hope the following ideas are helpful:

Resentment is poison that slowly sickens our spiritual well-being.

We must rid ourselves of all resentments, every last one. According to a Sufi

holy man, the opposite of ‘resentment’ is forgiveness. Focusing on the faults and

failings of others get us nowhere. We must forgive and forget. By ridding ourselves

of all bitterness we act as human beings should. Carry no grudges. Give them up!

Forgive ourselves for all of the awful things we did years ago.

Having accused ourselves before God, being truly sorry for our sins, we were forgiven.

We must accept God’s forgiveness. Let God’s love change us. We need to let go and let God.

Rejoice in God’s generous mercy always, and seek to live lives free of sin and guilt.

Honesty in our relations with God. Be completely honest with God.

We want to let him know the worst about ourselves. Hide nothing from him.

Welcome him inside our souls to see the darkest stains there. Every time we

discover a new imperfection in our personality, we must stop and thank God;

for he is helping us to know ourselves better.

Try to remember as many victims of our iniquity as possible.

This is a moral duty; it is our responsibility for having hurt them. We will never be able to fully

 make amends to all the people whom we have offended, but we can keep them in prayer.

Become a co-worker with God’s Holy Spirit doing works of mercy.

Our peace of mind depends upon our decision to be of service to God’s plan of salvation.

By working together with God’s Holy Spirit, we participate in the peace of the Trinity;

true peace always radiates from God himself. We open ourselves to God’s peace which

floods us like sunlight---and we realize, as followers of Jesus Christ, that our very lives

depend upon others and how we may meet their needs. (For heaven’s sake, it is not

about us. It is about God, and his great love for all suffering people around the world.)

“There is a crack in everything God has made,” according to Ralph Waldo

Emerson. We sin, we all fall short. But the God who created us puts up with us. He has

always had our truest happiness in mind. God leads us away from sin and vice to inner solitude,

to peace of mind and heart. When we become strong in virtue, God speaks to our hearts in

the depths of prayer.

     The secret of finding interior peace of mind, then, is trust, to trust God, that “tremendous Lover”.

Letting God change us, as we try to do better. Suddenly, somehow, through the process of

letting go, we discover ourselves changed---more generous, compassionate and kinder.    

     We stumble into God’s precious gifts of peace and serenity. We let his peace seep into

our hearts and minds-----Aha!

Jerry Wickenhauser       Godfrey   /   618 467 0384