Profound Stillness

Peace is more than an intention, or a wish, or a prayer. It is more than antiwar protests, long eloquent speeches or articles, even books. It is so much more than even that calm between storms. It is not a liberal Democrat’s political position promulgated in Congress like an anti-missile launch. It is not political, economical, social - not earthly at all. It is not something we do. It is not an action of any kind. It is in the breath between words, in that moment when we stop talking, even stop thinking, and allow the angels space to breathe for us.

Peace is that profound stillness, infinitely fertile power which removes all barriers to the divine presence and gently holds you. It is an infinite and deeply saturated moment infused with love and the presence of God.

Peace, like so many beautiful spiritual attitudes, has long eluded us. As the many centuries-long dark night of our collective soul clouded over earth’s civilizations, each in its own way reinterpreted these ancient ideas, in less and less depth, until they became social action statements, political platitudes, nice Sunday school ideas, but not the cutting-edge opening into ultimate truth and reality, essential truths they really are.

Peacemakers throughout these long dark centuries have, through deep prayer (as in Teresa of Avila, John of the Cross, Jesus, Buddha, and so many others in recent times), discovered a great calm, an endless ocean of stillness. It is beyond understanding, beyond words. It is beyond intellectual description or understanding. It is ineffable because it resides in and emerges from the heart, which has its own language, often realized through the arts. It radiates itself, as love radiates itself. Words may be able to frame it, a bit, but they are not it. It also cannot be legislated because it is free and comes of its own free will. It has its own intelligence and being and comes on the wings of grace when it wills, when the climate is right.

Peace grows in a unique soil, lives and flourishes in a fertile climate. Like a precious rare flower, it will not grow in an acidic oil slick, or a chemically infused, toxic environment. It grows in a gentle valley, a sacred place, where it is honored and welcomed. It is a place where the heart is cherished above the hardness of the brain. It is a place of unsurpassed patience, of endless compassion, of resonant music and light, gentle and allowing. It grows where it is seeded and then nourished. It cannot be bought or sold or controlled or enslaved. It is eternally alive and powerful in its ability to bring all who enter into its gentle, radiant stillness, deeper into the throne room of God, into the real holy of holies within the human soul, into the authentic presence of God, whom we can meet in this climate of peace.

Peace seekers can create the right climate in which it can be seeded and grown. They can make the workplace or home an intentional uncluttered gentle garden for love, acceptance, unconditional compassion, infinite patience filled with much beauty. They can make it a place that honors each and every one that lives, works, or enters it. The spiritual light and love in that garden can be enhanced by the objects placed within it. Light attracts more light. Color brings life to a dead space. Soft music, baroque, classical, sweet Irish ballads, some ancient chanting, played softly, in an atmosphere of positive aromatic essences - lavender and jasmine and rosemary, for example—all will help to create an invitation to peace.

Peace is like the proverbial bird of paradise. It comes at our invitation when the climate is right. The right climate is the invitation. It is also invited intentionally by us through prayer and the stillness of meditation.

Peace is waiting for an invitation. As you look around your home, your office, your workplace, see how it does - or doesn’t - invite peace. Then if, in your heart of hearts, you truly want to raise the spirituality of this place, detoxify it, get rid of the old stuff, paint the walls, bring in plants and fountains, a lead-free scented candle. Set aside time each day to sit quietly in that atmosphere, just being, not doing, and pray or sit in quiet reflection or meditation. If we prepare for peace, and wait, peace will surely come.

Peace I leave with you, 

my peace I give unto you: 

not as the world gives, give I unto you. 

Let not your heart be troubled, 

neither let it be afraid. 

- John 14:27