Mindfulness – James Tippins

Testing Peace and Rest: Where Authenticity Takes Root

Peace is a strange thing when you first find it. It feels almost too good, like something you didn’t earn or don’t quite trust yet. It sneaks in quietly as you start peeling back the layers, discovering who you are underneath everything the world told you to be. And then, out of nowhere, your mind goes: Wait, is this okay? I’ve never been here before. What if it’s not real?

That moment when you’re tempted to question the peace you’ve found isn’t a sign you’re failing. It’s a sign you’re waking up. Testing peace isn’t about rejecting it; it’s about making sure it’s real. Because true peace doesn’t just happen on the surface, it takes root deep in your core, where it can’t be shaken by fear, pressure, or noise.

Why Testing Peace Matters

Think of peace as something alive, like a seed that starts small but can grow into something unshakable if you give it the right care. Testing it doesn’t mean you don’t trust it; it’s how you strengthen it. Testing asks the hard questions: Does this peace come from who I truly am, or is it just another layer of performance? Can it hold up under stress, or does it disappear the second things get messy?

This isn’t about being skeptical of yourself; it’s about knowing yourself. Peace that’s rooted in your core values will hold steady. Peace that’s built on a façade will crumble the second life tests it. And that’s okay, every test teaches you more about where the real you begins and the false you ends.

Here’s how you can test it:

Challenge It: Put your peace in situations where it might not come easily. Does it stay with you when you face discomfort or uncertainty?

Question It: Ask yourself if this peace feels true to your core, or if it depends on something external to exist.

Observe It: Pay attention to how your peace interacts with tension or adversity. Does it guide you, or does it retreat?

Testing isn’t an attack on your peace. It’s like checking a foundation to make sure it can handle the weight of the life you’re building.

Resting in Peace (Literally)

Here’s the other side of the coin: Peace doesn’t just get stronger when you test it, it grows when you rest in it.

But resting is hard. If you’re used to being driven by fear, achievement, or other people’s opinions, stillness can feel like losing control.

It’s not.

Resting is where the work gets done without you having to do anything. It’s where your identity starts to feel less like something you have to defend and more like something you just live.

Here’s how you rest in your peace:

Make Room for It: Set aside time to just be. No distractions, no to-do lists. Just sit with yourself and let the quiet settle in.

Face the Discomfort: If peace makes you uneasy, that’s okay. Let those feelings come up and look at them with curiosity. They’re not your enemy, they’re your teacher.

Let It Be Enough: Stop trying to prove your peace is real. It doesn’t need validation. You don’t need validation. Let the quiet be enough.

Resting in peace isn’t about doing nothing; it’s about letting go of the need to control. It’s choosing to believe that who you are is already enough, even if you’re still figuring it all out.

How Testing and Resting Work Together

Testing and resting aren’t opposites, they’re partners. Testing peace helps you trust it. Resting in peace helps it grow. Together, they create a rhythm that keeps you grounded as you navigate this journey of discovering your true self. One keeps you honest; the other keeps you whole.

The beauty of peace is that it’s both the root and the fruit. It’s where everything starts, and it’s what you get to experience as you live in alignment with your core. So, test it when you need to. Rest in it as often as you can. And let it become the steady presence that carries you forward.

Living in the Moment: "Are we truly living, or just thinking about life? Join me as I delve into the journey of staying present and finding joy in everyday moments.

Stains keep me up at night.

It's true. I have a tendency to obsess over stains on rugs, clothes, bedding, or anywhere else. There's a wine stain on our butcherblock countertop that only I can see. I've spent the last nine years trying to discover new ways of eradicating it. One day, I'll strip, sand, and refinish the whole lot; that will do it.

Most of the time, a stain is something to remove or clean. But in a positive sense, we can call a stain a mark.

Everyone thinks about making a "mark" on the world. And some of us leave negative marks or stains. So, let's just say that a mark is positive and a stain is negative depending on the outcome and most of all, the perspective.

The mind inside of me is always thinking. And today, I realized I'm not much for personal legacy but I am always, even from childhood, considering my impact on the world around me.

I reevaluated some goals recently that some of you may have seen on YouTube. Check it out if want a peek inside my insanity.

Today I have put some action to these goals with other thoughts.

THREE M's of leaving a MARK

MOVE

MEET

MOTIVATE

These three things are not an all-inclusive set of actions that will give me what I want, but they are MY WAY of organizing my life. And for those who know me, you understand this came to me in a nanosecond. I am a living, breathing alliteration factory.

MOVE

This means that I want to enter this phase of my life actively. So, I am going to rekindle my passions for martial arts, biking, strength training, shooting sports, calisthenics, and swimming. I find that when I engage my body my mind seems to be alive and focused. That is why I nearly always take calls and walk. I've recently added a "pedal" under my desk.

Not only is moving good for the body and mind, but it is also good for establishing good connections for creativity, spiritual growth, and prayer. There is something to be said about doing that keeps our mind free to truly be in the moment. A short read of the New Testament letters reveals this practice often.

MEET

I've never been a stranger to strangers. I love meeting new people and lately have been more isolated than not. So, part of the life I desire to live requires being actively involved, to a degree, with others.

This part requires me to prioritize and put FIRST things FIRST.

So, in the relationship portion of "meet" I put my marriage as the top priority over every other relationship. This is key. If my marriage falls cold, everything follows.

Second, my children. All five of them and soon-to-be two grandkids, and the two sons-in-law are a major priority. And while they are not the top, they are as important and often require more time than my wife and I have for each other. But that's OK. We enjoy the adult side of parenting together.

Then comes my relatives, spiritual family, my community, those who depend on me in advocacy, and anyone else that comes along as my neighbor. I have an obligation to them, but never at the cost of the first two. I will write more about these relationships in time.

MOTIVATE

I have little time for leisure. I've tried it. It doesn't suit me at all. I honestly do not care for doing "nothing" and find it causes me stress. Yes, I take time out and I love being alone to write, think, and enjoy some of my more creative interests. But I need to be actively working toward a goal most of the time.

So, motivation includes me, and those around me, toward a goal or desire. I find that most people are stagnant because they are not encouraged, guided, shepherded, and loved. It's amazing to me that so many religious people are bitter, lonely, and hard to be around when they claim to have ultimate 'joy'.

I think it's more important to encourage and motivate other people in life beyond all other interactions or investments available. Time together is always time for encouragement.

Don't hear what I am not saying.

Let's say that Robyn and I are enjoying a nice walk on the beach. We're talking and laughing, enjoying the breeze and each other's company. This is a motivation. This is pressing our intimacy to a deeper level. This causes us to engage with life together. This pursues a goal: the walk is the goal.

There is much to be learned in this journey and much more to be shared.

Take a minute and ask yourself what would leave a MARK on the world that would make you glad.

Rest well. Listen well. Live.