There was an article by Michael Hunley in our local paper the day after Christmas discussing a balm to sooth our minds and give us a few calm hours after all of the painful news of 2024. He sought escape for a while not only from the news of wars and the pandemic, but all of the confusion and conflict displayed on social media. All these rattle the nerves keeping one constantly on edge. The Balm he proposed was some hours letting the mind dwell on some “less high-brow offerings and started watching something that dulled my senses and transported me away from my sufferings on a wave of canned laughter.” He does point out that “in such an ideologically divided world, rarely does anything good come form screaming at each other in the social media void, and it especially doesn’t do anyone’s mental health any good. Pop culture (Mr. Hunley believes) is a wonderful way to escape from life’s worries and stick your brain in neutral for several hours.”
He went on to say that this is not giving up completely because we can’t turn a blind eye to what is going on in the world, and “it is important to fight against what we believe is injustice in a constructive, and healthy manner. And the best way to achieve that”, he continues, “is making sure you yourself are in a good headspace.” I would agree with these last two comments, and certainly we all need some times of rest and change of calm mental scenery. But I don’t think pop culture and something that “dulls the senses” is really an answer. That simply focuses on something silly that fades all too quickly and not really bring any lasting peace.
Too often, while many look to the Lord for some hope when they thinking about dying, they completely neglect the peace He can give in each present day. I think of David’s wonderful words in Psalm 23. “He leads me beside quiet waters, he restored my soul…..” Mr Hunley proposed Pop Culture as a “balm for your brain”. The only true balm that gets us through all times of life is the “Balm of Gillead”. In Scripture this is the healing/restoring promise of God for His people. The ultimate balm of Gillead is the atoning blood of Jesus Christ on Calvary’s cross. Until we are willing to turn to Him there is no lasting peace of mind or heart.
We are all broken and sinful people who have caused the chaos and evil we see in life. It is important that we live the example of Jesus’ parable of the Good Samaritan. That is the work of daily life whether through action or prayer. But our peace of heart and mind comes from our daily living fellowship with Jesus Christ, our Saviour. It was only this that could allow Paul and Silas to sing a hymn in the damp, dark dungeon of a Roman prison in Philippi. It was only this that allowed 2nd century Bishop Polycarp to be at peace even while the fire was being prepared to burn him at the stake. It is only this that has allowed untold numbers of saints, martyrs, and common folk to live their lives in good time and in bad, with a peace that passes all human understanding.
We are in an age of extreme spiritual warfare, whether we acknowledge it or not. That’s what is going on around us. The only place of peace and security for 2025 and beyond is in the Balm of Gillead. It is time that we recognized that, letting it work its healing and restoring calm in life.
May it truly be yours my dear ones, in all of the days ahead.
Pastor Stapf