Day Nineteen: Peace

Word of the Day: Peace

Image of the Day: starlings in bare branches, bird prints and footprints in the snow

Token: Fair Trade moonstone bracelet (for clarity, reflection, calm and love)

Gail writes: Peace to you in all you do, in every moment of your being, PEACE

Peace is not silence, not the absence of war, not sitting cross-legged singing and playing guitar...but it can embrace all of these.

Peace is about intention, positive regard, active desire for the universe to be in right order. Peace is a choice...

I've had an issue with the term "pacifism" to describe a way of life that promotes and works for peace. I eventually realised that this was due to the sound of the word being "passive-ism", thus giving me the sense that it was not about taking action, doing something to bring about peace but was more about sitting at Woodstock or Glastonbury with flower garlands woven through hair, smoking joints!

Now, in my tiny beginnings of wisdom, i see the value in the "being" and i view peace as something that must be sourced deep within oneself, fed by random acts of kindness, genuine love for Gaia, and strong desire to be fully alive.

Only from here can i pray for peace "out there". I must be activated from real stillness, take action only when i can be fully present and, as St Francis of Assissi is quoted as saying: "Preach the Gospel at all times. If necessary use words." Jesus sent the disciples out and instructed them to go to every house and offer God's peace. Either it would be accepted or not. If it was not accepted then the Peace would stay with the disciple and they should simply leave and go on to the next house. All we can do in the world is offer peace, it cannot be forced, we cannot use anything other than hospitality, honest, open, sacrificial love.

Looking for the words for "Deep Peace" i came across the following:

Deep peace I breathe into you, O weariness, here:O ache, here!
Deep peace, a soft white dove to You;
Deep peace, a quiet rain to you;
Deep peace, an ebbing wave to you!
Deep peace, red wind of the east from you;
Deep peace, grey wind of the west to You;
Deep peace, dark wind of the north from you;
Deep peace, blue wind of the south to you!
Deep peace, pure red of the flame to you;
Deep peace, pure white of the moon to you;
Deep peace, pure green of the grass to you;
Deep peace, pure brown of the earth to you;
Deep peace, pure grey of the dew to you,
Deep peace, pure blue of the sky to you!
Deep peace of the running wave to you,
Deep peace of the flowing air to you,
Deep peace of the quiet earth to you,
Deep peace of the sleeping stones to you!
Deep peace of the Yellow Shepherd to you,
Deep peace of the Wandering Shepherdess to you,
Deep peace of the Flock of Stars to you,
Deep peace from the Son of Peace to you,
Deep peace from the heart of Mary to you,
And from Briget of the Mantle
Deep peace, deep peace!
And with the kindness too of the Haughty Father
Peace! In the name of the Three who are One,
Peace!
And by the will of the King of the Elements,
Peace! Peace!

the dominion of dreams: under a dark star - fiona macleod - 1895
http://www.worldprayers.org

In my head i hear the words being sung by Libera:

Deep peace of the running wave to you
Deep peace of the flowing air to you
Deep peace of the quiet earth to you
Deep peace of the shining stars to you
Deep peace of the gentle night to you
Moon and stars pour their healing light on you
Deep peace of Christ, of Christ, the light of the world to you
Deep peace of Christ to you.

And i come back again and again to the Beatitudes. Jesus tells us:

Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the children of God.

Peace is a fruit of the Spirit available to everyone who wants to take a bite!

May the peace of the Christ be with us all one day very soon...