The only people that really know our young lives are our parents. Whatever vague recollections I have from my early earthly days cannot compete with the vibrant remembrances my parents vividly recall. They know more about my early life even if I am the original owner (actually God is the owner of all life).
My memories only began taking root when I began to mature and morph into my own man. A process filled with starts and stops; diversions and deviations. The key word being maturity and making myself into who I wanted to be and who I wanted the world to see.
As I quickly approach my sixtieth birthday (how is this even possible?), I know I am blessed to have had Pat and Don as my mother and father. Parents who have always loved me even when I challenged and contested their love. Parents who taught me that God will always love me even when I strayed and spurned His love. Parents who raised us to seek and surround ourselves with the Peace that passes all understanding, as opposed to all the pretend promises of this world like trinkets and titles.
As a young man growing up in the eighties, I bought into and believed in an American dream of the high life and an even higher sense of myself. Aspiring for a life of luxury, sophistication and ruling class ambitions. Aiming for a life of greater economic status than either my parents or grandparents had attained. Ambitious for a life of plenty and pleasure as opposed to a life of peace and profoundness.
As my heart moved further away from God, I filled it with what I wanted; with what I treasured. With every new professional promotion and subsequent super-sized salary, my parents wished me happiness with my success of status and stuff. But they also saw my pain, my unhappiness and my loneliness.
They already knew what I refused to believe. The good life isn’t about a fabricated myth of things or trophies, but peace. The type of peace you’ll need when the good times end; and everything and everyone has an ending in this here and now.
This Peace that passes all understanding is only revealed and received when our hearts embrace the Love of eternity. The Source of life. The Hope of humanity.
It was this peace that sustained my parents in the good and not so good times. It was this peace that held them together in matrimony for over fifty years. It is this peace that reassures my mother every day that my father and all those who love her in heaven are waiting to welcome her into paradise.
While my parents taught us to treat other people with consideration and contribute to the world, they reminded us daily to put our faith in God alone. Not the culture; not in any human (including ourselves). They knew the only path to peace in this life lives in the heart that clings to God. God is love.
My faith is no longer in whatever delusional dreams of riches or recognition we’re sold by a morally bankrupt culture. We’re a selfish society that’s elevated vice as opposed to emulating virtue. We’re a people whose greedy government knows no ethical edge. We’re manipulated, misled and misinformed to make choices that diminish ourselves and degrade other humans.
This gift of peace has given my heart clarity about the earthly world and clear hope about the eternal world. Peace is a gift that’s revealed the true Truth. Peace is a gift that’s illuminated the limitless Light. Peace is a gift that lives only in the lasting Love of all life.
Seeking the Peace that passes all understanding is the greatest gift my parents imparted to us. Seek and you shall find. Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
Peace. God loves you.
If you want to learn more about my spiritual journey, you can read or listen to my award-winning memoir Finding God in Vegas: A Gen X Spiritual Awakening; available on Amazon and all platforms in print, electronic or audio.