Peace has been hard to find lately. How about you? I’ve had it, which is probably why I miss it so much. What happened to it? Where did it go and how do I get it back?
In the midst of life’s stress, chaos and anxiety, peace can be elusive and hard to define. It’s easier to say what it’s not. It’s not this anxiety, this hurt. It’s not suffering. It’s not turmoil. Conflict. Drama. Chaos. Change. Tension. Struggle. This is what I want to do without.
Webster’s defines peace as the absence of war or conflict. Peace is mentioned 329 times in the Bible. In that context it’s not just the absence of conflict but includes the presence of something else. Two years ago I wrote that Peace is inside of you. Peace comes from within. It is a state of balance and understanding about yourself – and between yourself and others. I still believe that, but that doesn’t tell me how to get back to peace.
So, here's what I’m doing to make peace happen; living in the moment. Being calm in my heart in the midst of chaos or discord. Accepting life as it is, rather than how I want it to be. Is life fair? No. I have to remember that. Do I like tension or conflicts or stress? No. And I can’t control when those storms arise. But, I can control what I do about it. Live in the moment. Accept what is rather than what I thought it would be. Let struggle be my teacher—and choose to learn from it. Recalibrate to where I want to live emotionally. Have the courage to look that trial in the face and feel it. Then--choose to be better for it. To slow down and control my reactions and my desire to move forward and live my best life. Is it good? You bet it is!
Gandi said, “There is no way to peace. Peace is the way.”
Peace can happen for all of us. Find your way today.