A few years ago, while working through an academic program, I was privileged to get to know an exceptional person, minister, teacher and theologian who continues to have a powerfully positive impact on my life and ministry.

As a doctoral advisor, Dr. Leonard Sweet knew how to challenge, inspire, and motivate those who studied under his guidance. I’m grateful for the richness of the experience with Len Sweet—I continue to try and keep up with what he is up to from year to year!

This New Year’s, Dr. Sweet wrote a summary of his goals for 2021.

THIS YEAR I WANT TO BE MORE LIKE JESUS:

Hang out with sinners.
Upset religious people.
Tell stories that make people think.
Choose unpopular friends.
Be kind, loving and merciful.
Take naps on boats.

That last goal brought a smile to my face! I’ve often pictured Jesus relaxing on a boat out on the lake, surrounded by a few of his closest friends. Remember when there was a massive storm raging and the disciples feared for their lives—and Jesus was on the boat with them, sound asleep?

Later on we see Jesus saying good-bye to his disciples with these powerful words: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid” ( John 14 ).

This peace is not found through escape from challenging circumstances, avoidance of struggle and pain, nor, in “the absence of trouble.” This is not a peace where one runs away from responsibility, or hides from the demands of reality. The gospel song shares this great message: “Sometimes He calms the storm; sometimes He calms His child.”

We may prefer to read Jesus’ words: “My peace I give to you, my peace I leave with you,”in terms of our feeling good, protected and secure. William Barclay’s comments on this text suggest Jesus was leaving us a peace arrived at by giving up security for commitment and confrontation. We see Jesus had peace inside himself, because he had a settled awareness of who he was and what his life was about—his Father’s business of bringing God’s love into every life.

As we move into a turbulent, unknowable year ahead, let’s remember that Christ’s peace sees the reality of this world, and provides the strength, commitment and courage for us to find ourselves within this reality. Christ’s peace is known in “hope”—the Greek origin of hope means to “endure.” We experience this “otherworldly” peace when we hope in who the living Jesus was and the risen Christ is now in our lives. May we endure in the hope of God’s living presence in 2021 and always!

“Peace I leave with you; my Peace I give to you, not as the world gives do I give you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”

Please live this year in the Lord’s peace as a member of the Foothills family,

Duff