Peace on Earth. We hear the phrase frequently this time of year. When peace polls are taken, nearly everyone says that they want peace. However, many don’t believe that it is possible. There are two main definitions of peace in
Peace on Earth. We hear the phrase frequently this time of year. When peace polls are taken, nearly everyone says that they want peace. However, many don’t believe that it is possible.
There are two main definitions of peace in the dictionary. First, “freedom from disturbance; quiet and tranquility.” Secondly, “freedom from the cessation of war or violence.”
Wikipedia adds “a sign of harmony characterized by the lack of violence, conflict behaviors and the freedom from fear or violence.”
Where does this conflict come from? Let’s start with a person. In each person there are different parts and they need different things.
The physical body needs food, clothing, shelter and exercise.
The mental body also needs food and exercise to become strong. We feed it by giving it quality information about things that matter or that present new ideas to us. We exercise it by making appropriate decisions and having stimulating conversations where ideas are shared, challenged and synthesized (combined into a meaningful whole). And yes, sometimes we eat a little junk food.
The emotional self is the one that lets us know if our needs are being met. It thrives when it feels peace, safety, confidence, trusts those it is with and is respected and loved. It is not at peace when it feels threatened, embarrassed, guilty, hopeless, angry, depressed, lonely, overwhelmed or stressed.
The spiritual body is. It has no needs — an extension of the Creator’s love. It is the quiet strength within connected to Creator that can heal all things, when sincerely asked. This is where the true source of peace is. Being holy, it is not ultimately affected by the other bodies. This is what makes forgiveness possible, and forgiving horribly misguided behavior is how South Africa healed from apartheid.
Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. It is not as the world gives that I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, and do not let it be afraid.” (John 14:27) He knew that peace was not to be found in worldly objects, but that “The kingdom of God is within you.” (Luke 17:21) Before his crucifixion, He told Pontius Pilate, “My kingdom is not of this world.” (John 18:36)
Hindus, Buddhists and Jainists practice the concept of non-attachment. “Attachment means holding on to things dearly, as if you cannot live without them, or as if your very happiness and existence depend upon them … They determine your actions, reactions and inaction, your joys and sorrows and your successes and failures.”
It doesn’t mean that we live without the things of this world that we need and want, but that we don’t give them power to control how we think or act. Our direction would ideally come from connecting to the divine part of us that is so hard to be still and quiet and listen to, the spiritual part of us.
But the good news is that that part of us really wants to connect, and we get reinforced with peaceful feelings when we are still and listen. Our spiritual self is unconditional limitless Love. Just like our Creator.
If we feel lonely, bad, sad, mad or confused, we can pray to our God for help and protection to feel that loving spiritual part within us and to let us know how much we are loved. If you don’t feel it the first few times, keep trying. Jesus understood. He said, “The spirit is willing but the body is weak.” (Matthew 26:41) It may help to do it in a small group of friends, so you don’t get distracted.
When we feel that peace and love that goes beyond thinking, we wouldn’t want to commit suicide over someone who doesn’t want to be in a relationship with us. We wouldn’t want to hurt someone who thinks or looks differently from us. We could more easily shake off a disrespectful remark and not need to defend it. We’d just know it wasn’t true.
We’d look more for how we are the same, rather than different. Each person no matter what the outside looks like, or how it thinks, has this same inner spiritual core. When we get to know ours, we also know some about another’s.
This year, may we all have more peace on Earth by starting within ourselves.
Happy New Year!
• Hale Opio Kauai convened a support group of adults in our Kauai community to “step into the corner” for our teens, to answer questions and give support to youth and their families on a wide variety of issues. Please email your questions or concerns facing our youth and families today to Annaleah Atkinson at aatkinson@haleopio.org
