Are STRESS and PEACE Mutually Exclusive?
Dynamic tension can be beneficial, but ONLY in the proper dosage!
One of my all-time fave scenes in the original Christmas story is when the heavenly host of angels declares, “Peace On Earth, Goodwill to All!” (Luke 2:14). Not only do our hearts crave and long for peace, but considering current events, we are acutely aware of how much our planet NEEDS peace!
As I was contemplating that profound angelic proclamation, a seemingly odd thought bubbled up in my mind that I hadn’t fully considered before:
PEACE is the absence of CONFLICT, not the absence of TENSION.
The truth is that tension, when working properly, is a GOOD thing! I realize how odd that may sound, but hear me out…
Think of any stringed instrument: guitar, violin, piano, harp, etc. Each string MUST have a precise amount of tension to be in tune. Too much tension, the string is sharp and can even snap. Too little tension and the string is flat and useless. But with just the right amount of tension — and for each string it is different — the instrument is able to produce truly beautiful music and an unlimited number of songs!
We often equate tension with STRESS, and thus, we want to eliminate ALL tension from our lives. But without the “right amount” of stress, our muscles will atrophy, our mind goes dormant, and we would literally stop any progress and growth.
If you consider how our universe is wired — our cells, our bodies, nature, bridges, buildings, even the cosmos — it is self evident that not only does tension exist pretty much everywhere, but it is NECESSARY. Without the equal-and-opposite reactions that are in play within us and all around us, our muscles can’t do their job, our bridges collapse, and the universe either flies apart or collapses upon itself.
With that in mind, I propose that we re:think our understanding of what the angels meant when they proclaimed PEACE ON EARTH as the Savior of the World arrived on this planet as a newborn baby. I encourage you as you sing the songs and hear the original Christmas story again, let us all pray fervently for the end of destructive conflicts, on a global scale as well as on a personal scale, AND give thanks for the “gift” of dynamic tension that is “present” in our world…put there by the One who holds it all together! (Colossians 1:17)
This Christmas, may we all receive the gifts of DISCERNMENT and WISDOM so we will have keen understanding and clarity, and for the COURAGE to make peace, to keep the peace, and to embrace the “healthy” tension between all things, remembering the simple-yet-profound principle that we were taught as children: to play well together.
May we all PLAY. WELL. TOGETHER!
-MoJOE risin’…
[ SUBSCRIBE • COMMENT • LIKE • SHARE ]
:: MASTERMIND | https://bit.ly/mojoe-MM1
:: VODCAST | https://www.youtube.com/@mojoemccarthy/podcasts
:: MERCH | https://mojoestudio.printify.me/products
:: TIP JAR | https://buymeacoffee.com/mojoemac
:: ALL THE REST — https://mojoe.studio
#war #peace #conflict #tension #harmony #music #universe #nature #living #relationships #mindfulness #perspective #personalgrowth #personaldevelopment
Oh, beautifully said thank you for sharing - I saw it on X and love your content.