Embrace Peace by Rev. Teresa Stuefloten, M.Div. 1/11/2026

Good morning! This is Rev. Teresa. I am speaking today about embracing peace and bringing peace into 2026.

There has been a lot of anger in 2025. It is understandable how we come to feel anger due to conditions in the U.S. and in other places on the earth right now. In the U.S. there are large disagreements about the treatment of immigrants and ICE agents in our cities. These are our neighbors, fellow human beings.

And this is just the tip of the iceberg of the issues that are causing anger and division. War and economic injustice are also sources of disagreement and discontent, as are many other issues. There is also deep sadness for many of us with the state of the world and the effect this has on our families. I have heard so many express that they cannot remember another time like this in their entire lifetime.

Many people currently have divisions within their own families due to strongly held differences of opinion. There are those who have cut off contact with their families completely, causing a lot of pain. And there are those who agree not to discuss politics or religion when they are together, resulting in a lingering sense of tension. But not talking about divisive issues is probably better than fighting about the issues and causing family rifts.

Proverbs in the Hebrew Bible has much to say about anger:

A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

Proverbs 15:1

Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city. Proverbs 16:32

A (person) of wrath stirs up strife, and one given to anger causes much transgression. Proverbs 29:22

Many of us would like to see peace in our world. We would like to see love, kindness and compassion prevail. We would like to bring back civility. If we want to bring peace into 2026 we need to release anger. How can we be a Divine instrument for peace if we are angry?

It is easy to make anger about how things are into an identity. The ego loves to construct identities. “I am the person who is angry about how things are currently. I express my anger every chance I get. I am a good person because I am angry about injustice.”

James 1:19 says, “Know this, my beloved brothers (and sisters): let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of (a person) does not produce the righteousness of God.”

If we want to be a Divine instrument of peace, we need to be able to embrace Divine Love for all beings everywhere. We are all part of the family of humanity. We are one. We are all made in the image and likeness of God, perfect, whole and complete. We need to be able to embrace Divine Love even for those who think differently about the issues we care about. The views of others are not who they are. Regardless of what we may think about their views, they are still Divine expressions, made in the image and likeness of God. Can we respect God’s creation regardless of how the ego of a person is currently expressing?

Proverbs 10:12 says, “Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses.”

It is also important to release anger because anger affects our own health. The National Institutes of Health did a study on anger. In a May 14, 2024 article titled, “Anger may harm heart and blood vessel health,” they found that “brief bouts of anger can impair the ability of blood vessels to expand and contract, which might have consequences for heart health… Over time, ongoing anger might lead to permanent damage and increased risk for cardiovascular disease.” (nih.gov)

Interestingly, Ecclesiastes 7:9 says, “Be not quick in your spirit to become angry, for anger lodges in the heart of fools.”

An article in Everyday Health titled, “5 Ways Anger Affects Your Health” says, “Anger is part of the fight, freeze, or flight response in which the adrenal glands flood the body with stress hormones, such as adrenaline and cortisol.”

According to the article, anger stresses the heart, worsening the heart’s ability to pump blood, which can lead to high blood pressure, heart disease, heart attack and stroke. In people with arrhythmias, which are irregular heartbeats, “adrenalin, which increases when you’re angry, can cause electrical changes in the heart.”

Anger can also disrupt digestion, which can lead to abdominal pain, stomach upset, and diarrhea, in the short run, and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and gastroesophageal reflex disease (GERD) in the long run.

Anger is also associated with anxiety, depression and sleep disturbances.

Suggestions to deal with anger include, curbing negative self-talk, going for a walk, stopping and observing your breath, and talking about it.

Dr. Andrew Weil teaches a 4-7-8 relaxed breathing technique that he says has relieved even extreme panic disorder. The technique is to breathe in to a count of 4, hold the breath for a count of 7, and push the breath out forcefully for a count of 8. Dr. Weil says it should be practiced in rounds of at least 4 breath cycles. a minimum of twice a day. (everydayhealth.com)

I invite you to try this breath technique with me now for 4 cycles. I will lead the process. Bring attention to your breath. Now:

breathe in 2, 3, 4… Hold 2,3,4,5,6,7… Exhale 2,3,4,5,6,7,8… breathe in 2, 3, 4… Hold 2,3,4,5,6,7… Exhale 2,3,4,5,6,7,8… breathe in 2, 3, 4… Hold 2,3,4,5,6,7… Exhale 2,3,4,5,6,7,8… breathe in 2, 3, 4… Hold 2,3,4,5,6,7… Exhale 2,3,4,5,6,7,8… Now return to your normal breath. How did that feel?

Observing the breath is a method we and many others teach as a method to bring your consciousness into a meditative state. It is a technique that is easy to do, requires no equipment and is available completely free of charge! All you need to do is to close your eyes, focus your eyes on the center of your forehead, and pay attention to your breath, following your breath in and out, feeling the sensations of the movement of your breath, the rise and fall of your belly with each breath, and the coolness of the in-breath and warmth of the out-breath. As you continue to follow your breath you will notice your body and mind becoming more and more calm, as you slow down. You are in the present moment. Concerns fall away. You are resting in the peace that passes all understanding. This is the beginning of meditation. Allow yourself to remain in this peaceful and calm state for as long as you are able, returning to following the breath when thoughts intrude on the peace of your meditation.

Daily meditation reduces stress and calms the fight or flight response, making it easier to be calm. Meditation promotes a more positive outlook on life and better sleep. Meditation brings peace to our life. Meditation can also lower blood pressure and heart rate, counteracting the effects of anger.

James 1:19 says, “Know this, my beloved brothers (and sisters): let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of (a person) does not produce the righteousness of God.”

Galatians 5:22-23 says, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control…”

What would embracing peace in 2026 mean in your life? What if you embraced not only peace in the outer world, but peace in your inner world?

Are there things you have done in the past that you have still not forgiven yourself for? Do you still have an inner battle going against yourself? Are you still mad at yourself for what you feel were poor choices in the past? Isn’t it time to forgive yourself in 2026 and have inner peace? What if you made this the year?

Are there broken relationships in your life where you are still angry with someone for their words and actions? What would it take for you to be willing to let go of the anger and repair the relationship? How can you bring peace into this relationship? How can you bring love into this relationship? Is it possible for you to allow yourself to see the inner divinity at the core of this person, seeing beyond their behavior that is coming from the ego, into the Truth of them at the soul level?

Anger damages us on the physical, as well as the psychological and spiritual levels. We don’t allow Divine Love in when we hold on to anger. Since each person is a Divine expression, when we shut someone out, we literally shut part of God out.

My own father struggled his entire life with anger for his father stemming from abusive treatment in his childhood. Though my grandfather tried to mend the relationship later on, my father would not let him in. My father held on to his pain and anger, wondering at the end of his life why his father did not love him. My father literally died of a broken heart, passing at 73 years of age from heart failure. My grandfather was a difficult person and I do not condone his behavior toward my father, but my father may have had inner peace by forgiving his father. I feel compassion for him.

I want to be clear that I am not condoning abusive behavior. If you have a broken relationship due to someone’s abusive behavior toward you, I am not advocating going back into an abusive situation. This would not be safe for you and you were brave to leave the abuse. Sometimes the best we may be able to do is to forgive the person in our heart, asking God to help us let go of the anger.

Now I am going to read you a story. As a retired teacher, I love children’s books and I love stories. The middle eastern people in Jesus’ time loved a good story, too, which is why Jesus told so many parables, which are teaching stories. This story is from a book titled “Folktales for a Better World, Stories of Peace and Kindness” By Elizabeth Laird and Mehrdokht Amino. The story is titled, “Allah Karim” and it is a story from Sudan.

Once upon a time, there was a rich man who had two daughters. Their mother had died, but the girls' father didn’t spend any time with them. He would give them gorgeous presents, then rush off to make more money.

The older girl loved her father’s presents, but the younger sister didn’t want them. She only wanted her father to notice her and love her.

The rich man was annoyed with his younger daughter. He couldn’t understand her.

“What’s the matter with you?” he demanded. “What more do you want?”

She couldn’t answer. She didn’t know how to ask for his love.

“You’re so ungrateful!” He burst out. ‘Why don’t you put on the expensive clothes I bought for you? That old dress you’re wearing is a disgrace!”

“It was my mother’s,” the girl whispered.

Her father didn’t hear. He had whipped himself up into a rage.

“Since you look like a beggar, you shall be a beggar!” He shouted, and he opened the door and pushed her out into the street.

By chance, a beggar was passing by.

“Here’s my daughter! You can have her!” The rich man yelled at him.

“What? But I can’t look after a girl!” protested the beggar. “I can hardly feed myself and my donkey.”

“Allah karim,” snarled the rich man. “God will provide.”

And he slammed the door shut.

The beggar and the girl looked at each other, too shocked to speak.

“I suppose you better come with me,” the beggar said at last, and they set off down the road.

They walked and walked, knocking on doors and asking for food. To the beggar’s surprise, no one turned them away.

Perhaps she’s brought me luck, after all, the beggar thought.

At last they came to the foot of a hill, rising above a town.

“We’ll go up there for the night,” said the beggar, “where no one will disturb us.”

It was a long climb up the hill, and the girl was exhausted when she reached the top. The beggar spread his old blanket on the ground for her, and went back to town to beg for their supper. The girl lay down and fell asleep at once.

When she woke up the sun was setting and the donkey had moved away. She led him back and tried to hitch his halter to a stone, but when she touched it, the stone sank into the ground.

“What’s this?” She said, looking down into the hole. “Why, it’s a jar!”

She pulled the jar out and tipped it over. A river of gold coins and sparkling jewels spilled out on to the blanket.

“Oh!” gasped the girl. “Oh! It’s - it’s…”

She picked up one priceless treasure after another, then she covered the pile with the corner of the blanket and waited for the beggar to return.

He came back with a bulging sack.

“The people of the town are kind,” he told her, opening the sack. “They’ve given me this lovely food, Go on. Eat.”

“After you,” she answered, smiling shyly.

I like this girl, thought the beggar. I’ll look after her best I can.

After a while she asked him, “What would you do if you found a thousand dollars in your pocket?”

“That’s easy,” laughed the beggar. “I’d feed ourselves for an entire year. There’d be enough for another beggar, too!”

‘And if you had two thousand?”

“I’d feed three more beggars. Come on. Why don’t you eat your supper?”

“Let’s imagine you had a million dinars,” the girl went on.

The beggar sighed. “How wonderful that would be. I’d build a big house where all of the homeless people could stay. I’d give them food and medicine and a place to rest and recover.”

The girl’s eyes shone with happiness.

“Would you really do that if you were rich?”

The beggar frowned. “Yes, but why are you teasing me with such an impossible dream?”

Laughing, the girl whisked away the corner of the blanket.

“Allah karim!” she said. “God is generous. Look what he has given us!” Then she told him how she had found the treasure buried in the ground.

The beggar couldn’t believe his eyes. “But it’s - it’s all yours,” he stammered. “You found it. You don’t have to stay with a poor beggar any longer. You’re beautiful and kind and rich - you could marry a prince.”

“But I want to marry you,” the girl said, “and build a home for the homeless right here on this hill.”

She persuaded him at last.

The next morning, they hurried down into the town. First they treated themselves to a sumptuous breakfast, then they bought new clothes. After that they got married, and as soon as that was done they searched out the owner of the hill and bought it from him. They hired masons and carpenters and glaziers, who started at once to build a fine, big house on the very spot where the girl had found the treasure.

When it was finished, they spread word far and wide that anyone homeless and hungry would be welcome to find rest and safety in the house on the hill.

Their refuge soon filled up, and their family grew, too, as sons and daughters were born. They all lived together in harmony and happiness.

Now, all this time, things had not gone well for the girl’s father. As the years passed, his fortune ebbed away, until he was left with no money any all. His older daughter was ashamed of the poor old man and refused to take him in, so he took to the road and became a beggar.

How cruel I was to my poor little girl, he often said to himself. This is the punishment I deserve.

One day another beggar told him about the house for the homeless, and showed him where it was. The old man was plodding slowly up the steep hill when his daughter looked out through the window and recognized him.

“Quick!” She said to her children. “Bring out the best food for a special guest!”

Her father, exhausted and half-starved, entered the house nervously, half expecting to be sent away. His daughter stayed out of sight, but her children welcomed him and sat him down to eat.

“But this food is fit for a king!” he said.

His daughter came up behind him.

“Allah karim,” she said. “God has provided.”

Her father knew her voice, and remembered the words he’d flung at her so long ago. He hid his face in his hands with shame.

“Oh, my dearest daughter,” he sobbed. “How can you forgive me?”

The girl embraced him.

“Dear Father,” she said. “We’re together now, and we’ll never be parted again. Look, here are your grandchildren, and here is my husband. Allah Karim. God has indeed provided.”

Isn’t that a wonderful story? It reminds me of the prodigal son story in the Bible. I love how the poor are portrayed as so loving, kind and generous in the story. And there is forgiveness for past wrongs committed, and reconciliation in a family. Love wins!

There are more stories in this book, so you will probably hear more of them in my future talks, since I love stories and I hope you do, too!

Immigrants and the poor are being targeted and scapegoated because people do not want to look at the face of poverty and admit that people are homeless and starving in America, through no fault of their own in most cases. They have forgotten that their own families were once immigrants a generation or maybe a few generations before, escaping poverty and coming to America, the place they saw as the land of opportunity and wealth. The current immigrants are no different. They are just seeking a better life than the one they left. They are escaping persecution like many before them.

As Jesus, who was hated and scapegoated for revealing the truth about those in power, said from the cross, “Father forgive them for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34) Jesus did not hate his enemies. He had compassion for them.

We can work for justice with love in our hearts for the poor and the immigrants. Rather than being angry with those who persecute the immigrants and the poor, we can say, “Father forgive them for they do not know what they are doing.” Then we can continue on working for justice in love for the poor and the downtrodden, our brothers and sisters in Christ consciousness.

And we can forgive those who have wronged us, letting go of anger and allowing peace to permeate our consciousness.

Matthew 5:44 says, “But I say to you, Love your enemies, and bless anyone who curses you, and do good to anyone who hates you, and pray for them who carry you away by force and persecute you.” Lamsa translation

Luke 6:27-28 says, “But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies and do good to those who hate you. And bless those who curse you, and pray for those who compel you to carry burdens.” Lamsa translation

Let 2026 be the year you release anger on all levels, allowing Divine Love to permeate your body, mind and consciousness. Work for justice with love in your heart and peace in your soul. Allow yourself to be healed by Divine Love in 2026. And so it is!