https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/attune40/episodes/Transcending-Peace-Within-e3aupvq
Allow me today to share an experience I had just recently when I went to fuel the car I was driving, and something really unexpected happened.
And our topic today, let us follow the topic “Transcending Peace Within.”
I remember every Sunday in the church, a priest would say, “May the peace of God which passes all understanding…” He would proclaim peace over us. Things we take passively, but they are real. I don’t take God passively, and I pray always that whenever I go to a church, I ask God to open my ears and my inner understanding because there is a lot that God speaks to us through the scriptures, through the priests that God has given us.
So, people of God, servants of God, thank you. And whenever I’m in a church, I want to listen. This time round, this is something in the marketplace, an experience. When I think about it right now as I share in this podcast, I look back and I’m full of joy because of the outcome of the kind of response, unexpected response. When we choose to take this for real, the kind of experience and response we get afterwards will bring joy and inner transcending peace.
So, at a fuel station, a gentleman does not read the sticker that says “Diesel”. He doesn’t want to look at it. He just puts in petrol. Thank God, he stops slightly before he puts in one liter, after I ask him, “What are you putting in?”
Yeah, here where I come from, in my country, sometimes we don’t read. Sometimes we can call when we are at a signpost; for example, if I’m going to Banana Hotel (doesn’t exist), I’ll be at the signpost and make a call, “Hello, where is the way to Banana Hotel?” even when there are arrows that show where I should go.
Don’t mind. We are progressing very well. It also works socially. If you can find somebody to call and they lead you to Banana Hotel and not somewhere else dangerous, then yeah, that’s an investment, social investment. So, there are advantages and disadvantages in everything. I’m not trying to justify the failure to read signposts. I’m trying to be fair in what I’m saying.
The gentleman, upon realizing he had put in the wrong fuel, he was timid. I was calm inside because I feel I’ve been transformed, and I’m undergoing transformation still in many other areas. But in this one, I thank God. I felt transcending peace, even when there was a crisis before me.
Will I fight? Will I threaten him? Will I try to get money from the petrol station? Shall I get the petrol station to fix the problem?
God always has greater solutions than humans. Maybe everything happens for a purpose. One time I said this to someone and they didn’t believe it. So, let’s leave that because it’s conceptual. Otherwise, for me, I see that in every situation, if we remain attuned to God, we learn divine purposes in everything. God never wants evil or wrong things to happen, but when they happen, what is our response?
The gentleman does not read. He gives me wrong fuel. What is my response? Now, before I continue, what would be your response? I wish this was a discussion and I hear your experiences, wherever, whichever culture, what would be your immediate response?
For me, in my situation, I told myself, “God is seeing this. So, how you react determines how God will help you out of this problem.”
The gentleman came over to apologize. But here’s something strange on me again. Let me ask you, especially the practicing Christian believers who are reading. (Remember, my podcasts are not only for Christians. Please, these podcasts are for everyone). But let me ask a question for my fellow believers. In that case, what do you do?
For me, in my case, I felt like, in the first place, I don’t have anything against you. I’m dealing with the problem right now, and you are not the problem. I see the problem. I need a solution to this. Now, you are saying, “I’m sorry, sir.” Will I now be engaged on the apology side or should we work together and find solutions?
I just told the gentleman, “I’m more concerned about the solution, not anything else.” And he quickly understood. He joined me to my side to help find technicians. And then I quickly called the experts that I know. Some, their phones were off, but there’s one reliable technician that I know. May God bless him. And I know he’s going to read this. Thank you, brother.
And then there was another technician, by God’s grace, he hadn’t gone home. It was at night. Two technicians were able to give me advice from their experience. The matter was resolved. The gentleman who had put in wrong fuel had become calm seeing I was focused on solutions and not against him. That also gave me peace. His colleague was working with me to find the solution. The management also quickly understood.
There was nothing like, “No. You need to pay for this crime.” I wanted peace for everyone.
I hope this gentleman will know that God changes people, and he can change him as well. As I share this podcast with you, everyone, wherever we are, we don’t really have to talk too much, but how we react, how we respond to a situation has very many effects.
There is peace within, as a result of how we respond to situations. It determines how we affect the other people. And in our Christian world, for us who believe in Christ, this is how we change the world. Not looking for our own interests, but making sure we stay tuned to the Holy Spirit, who loves everyone and is the giver of peace.
God bless you so much. Thank you for reading.