#13 Inner Peace

For a while, I was thinking about how to sum up this year of writing in a nice, crystal-clear way. What immediately comes to mind is a scene in Kung Fu Panda 2. Right as the movie is kicking off, Po is presented with the next milestone in his Kung Fu journey: achieving inner peace. He asks how he might do that, and his master gives him an annoyingly vague answer. 

Every master must find his own path to inner peace. Some meditate in a cave for fifty years, others find it through pain and suffering. Mine was finding out that you were the dragon warrior. It was the worst moment of my life. But once I realized that the problem wasn’t with you, but was actually within me, I was able to harness the flow of the universe.

What does that mean? I asked myself that for a while, then forgot about it before I could find an answer. But as I reflect on the quote, it kind of makes sense in a way. The more I write, the more I feel like I can go somewhere and do something in life. It’s like the paths are being revealed and my eyes are being opened. And with each topic that I cover, I get a greater sense of…well…

Peace. 

You can take on different pursuits in life, but some find themselves better-fueled than others. I don’t just write because it’s fun, or because the world needs another writer. The world also needs more plumbers, electricians, pastors and preachers. The world needs a lot of things and I can’t fill every role. Writing has become something sacred for me because it meets my own needs as well. I think that’s where I have found my inner peace: in helping others as I help myself. 

And that has helped me detach from the results. Sure, it’s fun when I get a whole bunch of views on a post or some excited words about how these thoughts have impacted others, but they ultimately aren’t my fuel. They aren’t what I do it for or what I am starved without. Nah, I do this because I love insight and I love understanding the world in a concrete way. 

And that’s something that has bugged me forever. I feel like oftentimes when I approach people with my questions, I am met with the same wishy-washy answer:

Well, it depends… 

Maybe I have to admit that there are some nuances to the ebbs and flows of the universe, but the more I write, the more I realize that concrete conclusions can be drawn and questions can be answered. The lost can find their way and drowning in confusion isn’t the only fate that we are left to. There is hope for this lost, broken world. We just need to reach out and take it. 

And my prayer is that some of that hope has overflowed onto you this year. Sometimes that hope comes with a side of frustration, so I humbly ask that you can forgive me and take it with a grain of salt. It all stems from the predators that I believe want to keep us in the dark for their own profit. But that’s a rant for another time. 

So I pray that this offers you some insight on how to find your own path to inner peace. Unfortunately, I can’t guarantee that I can find yours for you, but maybe this will give you some thoughts on where to start. And I pray that God finds you on your path there and that you find your way. 

Until Next Time

May Peace be your Guide.