How unrest ends

Two hippos, resting

An antique fresco of Augustine (354-430)

This morning I was praying to find an answer for someone who is wrestling for quite some time now to find inner peace - and sleep at night. The thought presented itself: „Rest is where it is right."

Rest is where it is right. Yes, this is so. We know it, it is like an inner "yes" - when we are in a right kind of work, when we love what we do, when we are in the company or presence of „those adapted to elevate it“ (Mary Baker Eddy), when the purpose is clear and when motive, talent and opportunity are in one place. In my case it feels so right to be near my husband. I know when I do my work faithfully, when I am truly living in the moment. I know both sides - a fundamental unrest ended once and for all when I stepped over to accept the spiritual dimension of life.

There is no shortcut to rest - because the heart is much cleverer than we are. We might think we can feign inner peace to others, presenting a restful attitude or displaying coolness to the world. Yet, we know who we are and people hear words and see faces, but they feel thoughts. And we are people, too.

So where is it right to be? Where is true rest? Most likely where we strike at least, where we are meant to be - and this can’t be no other place than LIFE, TRUTH, and LOVE, if you really think about it (even if it takes months or years to figure this out). As on a human level nobody questions when we are found in our apartment, house, room, nobody questions that this is where we legally are entitled to be and nobody will be surprised to find us there. Likewise, I find, for our true individuality, our spiritual selfhood, it is normal to be at home, too. It is meant to be. LIFE, TRUTH, and LOVE are Bible talk for God, timeless words. In Psalm 36 you can get at a hint of the deep peace and contentment flowing from bowing to something so wise and true, from being at home in the authentic:

"You have the fountain of life. We are filled with light because you give us light.“ And Psalm 62 has: "I will find my rest in God alone. He is the One who gives me hope. He is like a fort to me. I will always be secure."

Christ Jesus revealed to the world that God is truth. So you might read these Psalms like this: "Truth has the fountain of life. We are filled with light because Truth gives us light. I will find my rest in Truth alone. Truth is the One who gives me hope. Truth is like a fort to me. I will always be secure."

Where else can we find inner peace - but in Truth, God, itself? Reflected and expressed in truthful circumstances, motives of integrity, honest and authentic relationships, substantial work?

Augustine wrote centuries ago in his Confessions: "Thou hast made us for Thyself, and our heart is restless until it finds its rest in Thee." And for this once the original Latin:

Fecisti nos ad Te et inquietum est cor nostrum donec requiescat in Te.

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