Ecclesiastes 10

Ecclesiastes 10 deals with the reality of the king, and that living in a kingdom demands a certain kind of attitude. Buried within this passage, though, is a truth that applies to all sorts of situations- primarily conflict. In verse 4, Ecclesiastes lets us know that "Calmness can lay great errors to rest." Anxiety is a chronic problem in humanity. Conflict and stress produce all sorts of anxiety in people, and we (for the most part) are not people who handle anxiety well. We "take it out on other people," gossip, fight, shut down, burn bridges, and all sorts of strategies that we would not have used if not for the anxiety.

Being non-anxious, or calm, in the face of conflict, is not easy. It requires us to be aware of ourselves and aware of other people. It requires us to take a minute to acknowledge what is really going on around us; in other words, it requires for us to take a moment to think before we react. In society, reaction and the ability to react quickly and decisively is considered a strength, but many decisions made our reaction are really decisions made out of anxiety. And in relationship, reactivity and anxiety do not promote health. So if you are facing stress or anxiety with someone in your life, try today to handle that anxiety with calm. Pray for the peace which passes understanding, so that it might guard your hearts. Amen.