April 7, 2002

  • Peace


    For the past couple of months I've had a little greeting html'ed into my page.  'Peace' - I've been thinking of changing that greeting but before I do, I thought I'd like to toss out some thoughts on the subject of Peace.


    Peace - 1. freedom from war 2. treaty ending a war 3. freedom from civil disorder 4. quiet, calm, freedom from anxiety 5. a state of harmony between persons, absence of strife


    I have found that peace is only marginally related to the circumstances of my life.  There have been times when my life's turbulence threatened to wash away all my foundations, but I rode through the rapids with a sense of peace and exhilaration.  At other times the waters were calm and smooth, but I was drowning in anxiety, anger and fear. 


    Peace begins inside me.  When I am at peace with myself, there is no provocation strong enough to rock me off my center.  If I lack inner peace, there is no port calm enough for my ship to rest at anchor.


    Courage is the price that Life exacts for granting peace.
            Amelia Earhart, Courage, 1927


    You can't separate peace from freedom because no one can be at peace unless he has his freedom.
    Malcolm X, Malcolm X Speaks, 1965


    If you want to make peace, you don't talk to your friends. You talk to your enemies.
    Moshe Dayan



    Let tears flow of their own accord: their flowing is not inconsistent with inward peace and harmony.
            Seneca (3 BC - 65 AD)


    Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop away from you like the leaves of Autumn.
    John Muir


    Living apart and at peace with myself, I came to realize more vividly the meaning of the doctrine of acceptance. To refrain from giving advice, to refrain from meddling in the affairs of others, to refrain, even though the motives be the highest, from tampering with another's way of life - so simple, yet so difficult for an active spirit. Hands off!
    Henry Miller (1891 - 1980)

     
    Of one thing I am certain, the body is not the measure of healing - peace is the measure.
    George Melton


    First keep the peace within yourself, then you can also bring peace to others.
    Thomas a Kempis (1380 - 1471), 1420


    Nothing can bring you peace but yourself.
    Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803 - 1882)


    We shall find peace. We shall hear the angels, we shall see the sky sparkling with diamonds.
    Anton Chekhov (1860 - 1904), 1897

Comments (15)

  • Excellent!

  • You have hit the nail on the head!  Peace definitely begins inside yourself.  Very well put!

  • Very good. So, who are you and what have you done with my wife?

  • I will beg to differ with the opinion that peace comes from within because peace only comes God.  I could expound on a great many scriptures but will only quote Philippians 4:6-7, “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”  This peace only comes from within if He is within.  His peace passes our human understanding, its the peace you spoke of that continues throught he darkest storm, that overlooks the direst circumstances.  I'd have to also offer up the opinion that true peace has nothing to do with our "freedom" in our physical state but is a spiritual (heart) matter.  Most of what people think is peace is only an acceptance of the circumstances in their lives, a decision to try and be "happy" in spite of what is going on, and a futile effort on most parts.  There you go getting me thinking in the morning again! 

    God Bless - Dale

  • I will beg to differ with psalmist.  As all men know, if God exists, wouldn't he be a being inside a person?  I myself am not sure exactly what the whole concept of God is, but I do believe that anything close to it would be something that is in me--my heart, so to speak.  But there he goes quoting scriptures in attempt to prove something.  That to me is the main problem with religion--the need to prove so much, when proof really has no part of faith.

    I myself like the Henry Miller version of piece.  And Emerson's of course, but Miller's is Emerson's and vice versa.  They both attempted to practice the doctrines they formed for themselves, and that's highly admirable.  Peace...impossible to achieve, but lovely to aspire to--do we want true peace?  Do you, Terri?  Wouldn't true peace only come with death?

    Great blog. 

  • I dunno I feel peace is highly overrated but that is just where my mind is right now might be because i'm reading Charles Bukowski followed closely by Vonnegut thats enough to make anyone wonder if peace is EVER attainable!

  • Oooh, such lovely comments!

    Zoodom - the antidote to all that unpeaceable reading is the Dalai Lama.  He makes you wonder why you didn't realize there was so much peace already in the world. 

    Dale - I don't think that we are in disagreement as much as it appears.  If (as I believe) God is the ground of all our being, then peace that arises inside comes from contact with His presence.

  • In this world and in my life, I needed to hear what you shared today. Thank you.

  • hmmmmmm.

    no ghandi?

  • Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you.

    John 14:27

    I love this scripture it's what I always think of when I think of peace.

  • I happen to love this blog.  It hit home today.  Thanks.

  • Good blog. I agree. Peace is an inner state.

  • I like the quotes!! God (my humble "O") is in me... since becoming so fed up with the church I went back to the way I have always been.. that and after studying the courses on Reasons to Believe, I am even more sure that he resides within us all.. Peace C

  • "Peace begins inside me.  When I am at peace with myself, there is no provocation strong enough to rock me off my center.  If I lack inner peace, there is no port calm enough for my ship to rest at anchor." 

    I agree so strongly with that statement, Quiltnmomi.  I also believe in peace of conscience, which I believe comes from being true to yourself and your beliefs.

  • may you be filled with TRUE peace, Terri...

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