“What does man gain by all the toil at which he toils under the sun?”
- Ecclesiastes 1:3 ESV
Where is my peace to be found? And to where can I run, in hopes of finding rest?
There is no true one size fits all answer. But this is mine.
Some would say, run to God, and you will find peace. And I have run, and He has come to me, but he did not offer me any rest, for my mind wrestles with Him as each day passes. He offers me trials, and He allows me to be tested.
Some would say, run from your labors, the hard work of your flesh! Run to the hills, the gardens, the trails! These are the way to peace! But I find no peace in escaping my labors. There is no rest for the mind in avoiding one’s duty, because duty follows, always at the edge of the mind.
Many have said: with more money, you could find more rest! Work hard, get wealth, and you will be at peace! But how laughable this is; there can be no rest for the wealthy man. The more you amass, the more must be sacrificed, and managed, and watched, lest it be taken from you, by guile or by force. There is no peace on monetary gain.
Distractions! I would hear some cry, reveling in diversions to numb their sensations. These temporary things, which fill your mind with thoughts, and which force you to think more and more and more of things outside your control! No. A distraction is a poison to the mind. This is not the right way.
So where does my peace come from?
My peace comes from the enjoyment of a small labor completed well, and the taking up of a new labor. From the observation of a mundane beauty, be it of craftsmanship or of God’s nature, for these surround us wherever we go.
My peace comes from the well spent dollar, to wisely account for the gifts that God has given, and from the simplicity of an uncluttered life, taking only what is needed.
My peace comes from focused discipline, working hard, and resting responsibly. From the study of the world I live in, the beauty and joy that exists there, of which I have seen much.
My peace comes from the knowledge that the work will not end in this life, so I may take it as it comes, and enjoy the moments between labors. To be fully present in the sun, in the shade, in heat or cold. In the chaos or the silence.
To know that I am nothing, capable of anything, and that all my works will be ash. To accept the will of a Creator, wherever it might take me. If there is a peace for me, it is this.
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