Pecae – what is it? Absence from war?
Absence from noise? Absence from stress?
That is what it is not, but what is peace?
Is it the feeling to be able to loosen every
muscle and every inner fiber knowing that it
is surrouneded by the gentlenes of puffy
clouds? Or is it the feeling that our relaxed
body will be held up with the boyancy of an
object floating in salt water? Ah peace! Is
it the total relaxation of mind and body? Now
that we do not have to worry about the
state of our being, we can be aware of the
beauty and uniqueness that otherwise goes
unnoticed. The leaf gently blowing in the
breeze. It is not concerned how the wind
blows. It is safe. It is attached to its life
giving source – the tree – by its stem.
Are we attached to our Life Giving Source by
the stem of faith? As the leaf moves, parts
of it change in intensity of color as it goes
in and out of sunlight and shade. Did we
ever notice that before?
While still at peace we hear sounds which
were always there, but somehow we never
noticed them. There is the sound of birds
chirping in the trees. It is not a continous
noise. It stops, and begins again. Is there
a pattern to it?
There is the sound of wind or breeze as it
rustles through the trees. The grass suddenly
moves – a blade or two at a time as a bug
or “critter” makes its way on an unknown
journey. That creature, so small, seems to
know its purpose and where it is going.
Perhaps, in this peace we, too, can find
purpose and begin to feel the direction in
which we are going.
There are other sounds of life going on
about us. We can listen to the noise and
not add to the clamor. We can distinguish
the varied sounds: voices, loudness, sortness
anger -joy. The sounds of traffic, which
seem meaningless, but to each there is a
purpose and a destination.
Now we can take hold of the smells about
us. The smell of freshly mowed grass, the
odor of polution from all those cars and
trucks, the aroma of coffee brewing or
pastery baking.
All this peace is flowing – in motion. We
thought that peace was a stillness. Instead
we find that peace is an ongoing movement.
If ther is no movement, there is a state of
stagnant isolation. If the intended motion is
forced to a halt, pressure and stress build
up: peace ceases. Stop – absorb the peace
around you, then continue along your
peaceful movement. If someone should
happen to stop and be aware in peace, he
shall notice you peacefully flowing