Readings: Zephaniah 3:14020; Isaiah 12:2-6; Philippians 4:4-7; Luke 3:7-18

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Phil. 4:4-7, NRSV

I don’t want to live without peace. I don’t want to spend my soul’s energy regretting past mistakes, disregarding present blessings, and worrying about future possibilities. I want to live near God instead. Is it possible that being gentle with the lives of others opens a door into that place of peace? Could the reason it surpasses all understanding is that it’s just so simple?

Not easy, certainly. But simple.