Common Ground, Common Peace

“Help me, Lord, to understand this day and every day, that everyone is at a different point in their spiritual walk. But we all have the one same God -  with varying levels of understanding of Him. And they are all just glimpses with no one seeing fully the whole You.”

Seek peace and pursue it. First for our own countenance and then for what we can do to bring that peace to others’ countenance. We don’t need to throw our weight around. We all have different moments when we have a handle on peace and when we don’t; greater patience and understanding is what is needed. For there are times when others don’t know what you know – that’s why they’re responding the way that they do. And times when you don’t know what they know – that’s why they’re responding the way they do. You may think and feel you are in the right, but with more information it’s possible your thoughts would be changed. How often have we found ourselves in that exact scenario? We’re arguing with someone, trying to impress upon them how right we are and how wrong they are… and then all of a sudden they say something – and your breath takes little hitch. “Oh… I didn’t know….” Yeah. You know what I’m talking about. You quickly, quietly back down. So ask God to send up a little flare the next time you become determined to set somebody else straight. Start asking more questions. Gather a little more information and understanding. And be the one to find that common ground that leads to peace.

Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. – Romans 14:19 (NIV)

Let us then pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding. (RSV)