Peace

A book was recently shared with me titled Walking on Water by Anthony De Mello. At first glance it was smaller in size that most books and the cover picturing a woman walking on water peaked my interest. However, it was the timing of this book that reached out to me. While studying the resurrection appearances of Christ following the Easter season I picked up my new book and came to chapter three where this story is found.
"There were two monks who lived together for forty years and never argued. Not even once. One day, one said to the other. 'Don't you think it's time we had an argument, at least once?'
The other monk said, 'Fine, let's start! What shall we argue about?'
'How about this piece of bread?' said the first monk.
'Okay, let's argue about this bread. How are we going to do it?' said the second.
'The first said, "This bread is mine; it belongs to me.'
The second said, 'If it is, take it.''
De Mello moves on to say, "Peace isn't necessarily destroyed by a quarrel or an argument. It is the "I" that destroys peace." I imagine our Lord Jesus standing in the upper room with the very disciples who were hiding in fear, filled with doubt and denial because of "I" attitudes and uttering the assuring words of "peace be with you" a peace that says I forgive you and love you even when you face fear, doubt and denial.
As we continue the Easter season may we too find the peace of Christ as we struggle with our "I" of fear, doubt and denial of the very one who died for us. Peace!

Jeff, Thank you for sharing this book with me.

De Mello Anthony, Walking on Water, Crossroad Publishing., New York, 1998 (page 25-26)