17 May 2012

How to achieve peace.


                                                            photo by delamagente.wordpress.com
The universal problem of how to achieve peace plagues us all. Not only the larger picture of peace in the world, but also, peace within our own life.
People have always fought. I read a book once, Clan of the Cave Bear, which told of the struggle for supremacy between the two species of early man.
I guess, once one genetic strain died out, the tribe needed a leader. Then, he would have been challenged and so on, as each of the strongest males fought for supremacy in the way of animals.

photo by Coverimage.com.
               

Now, nations fight each other. One nation wants to take over smaller countries and they defend themselves. When a peaceful nation can't stand by and let other countries' rulers harm their residents, they send in armies to keep the peace. The locals then fight those who want to protect them. There are so many reasons for fighting—each justified, depending on the point of view.



         photo by fotoplatforma.pl
I don't want to fight.

But wait. What would I do if someone took my novel and said it was their own? No. That's all right. I'd just write another and use the experience. But what would I do if an intruder broke into my back garden, killed one of the wild peafowl and tried to kill another? I'd shout, but would I actually fight? Probably not. I'd call the police and let them fight for me. Wouldn't do much good. The birds would all be dead by the time help reached me.
I couldn't fight, even if I wanted to. I can hardly walk straight and I'm too slow in my movements.
But there are other forms of peace—internal. In an ideal life, each person could accept themselves as they are and live in the present moment.

http://www.freeimageslive.com/galleries/nature/woodland/pics/cumbriawoodland02940.jpg 
Yet we think, If only ...

I had more money ...
I was free from debt ...
I hadn't spent my youth so rashly ...
I'd saved for the future ...
The bullies wouldn't pick on me ...
I lived in another country ...
I could live alone without all this hassle ...
My loved-ones lived closer ...
Things were different ...
I had enough food for my children ...
I hadn't believed that stranger ...

I'd be happy.

Those of us living in a land where we are free to live the way we please can hardly comprehend the problems of other people living in repressed countries. I can't speak for them. But for me, I still don't achieve peace in my own life. And it's not for the lack of trying.

It seems we need to establish balance with those around us. If only we could love our neighbor, as the bible advises—give them the same consideration we give ourselves. That goes for our spouse. Yet we constantly struggle for supremacy and tiffs ruin our peace.
Until we reach a time of life where we live alone, we must achieve peace in our own home, which might spiral out like a ripple from a pebble tossed into Still Rock Water (chuckle—title of my soon-to-be-published book) to affect those around us.

last two photos by freeimages.co.uk



27 comments:

  1. You have peacocks in your back yard?! That's kind of awesome, although I'm terrified of them. I think it would be hard to resist writing children's stories with peacock characters.

    I struggle with inner peace too. There doesn't seem to be a point where I feel happy and it lasts for more than an hour.

    ReplyDelete
  2. "Yet we think, If only ...

    I had more money ...
    I was free from debt ...
    I hadn't spent my youth so rashly ...
    I'd saved for the future ...
    The bullies wouldn't pick on me ...
    I lived in another country ...
    I could live alone without all this hassle ...
    My loved-ones lived closer ...
    Things were different ...
    I had enough food for my children ...
    I hadn't believed that stranger ..."

    Then life would be boring.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Your discussion about not fighting reminds me of the speech given my Martin Niemoller. "When Hitler attacked the Jews
    I was not a Jew, therefore I was not concerned.
    And when Hitler attacked the Catholics,
    I was not a Catholic, and therefore, I was not concerned.
    And when Hitler attacked the unions and the industrialists,
    I was not a member of the unions and I was not concerned.
    Then Hitler attacked me and the Protestant church --
    and there was nobody left to be concerned."

    I believe that we all have to fight for our rights. We may not have the strength in our bodies to throw a blow but we can all fight with our tongues or our pens.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Very thoughtful comments. I think we have to remind ourselves how lucky we are to be able to have the freedom to write these blogs. We do not worry about violence outside our doorstep, where our next meal is coming from, or these huge major issues that trouble those in other countries. My concern is: how do I use this gift? This luck that put me here, in this place at this time?

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  5. What a wonderfully reflective post. I often think of these things. I'm not much of a fighter either, but I suppose there would be limits especially if it came to may family or my rights to live a free and happy life. I have a great deal of inner peace, but there is always a struggle with the forces that tend to challenge my sense of peace.


    Lee
    An A to Z Co-Host
    Tossing It Out

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  6. Thought provoking. Maybe we need to make peace with ourselves first. THat's something hard to do because it all has to do with forgiveness.

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  7. Great post - I love the picture of the skipping rock!

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  8. I don't believe we find real peace in this life. Ultimate peace comes only from God, and trusting in Him. We can attain a level of that here, but we will always struggle here in the physical. The older I get though, the less I will fight for things too. Ultimately, God's in charge and in His timing, justice will prevail.

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  9. The older I am, the more at peace with myself I become. I am at peace with who I am, but restless with what goes on in the world.

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  10. I find that people who are unpleasant don't seem to be at peace with themselves. Instead of being satisfied within, they not only seek satisfaction outside of themselves but make others miserable in the process.

    Fighting can be justified, but many violent acts are baseless.

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  11. Hey there
    Check my blog for May 20. There's a little surprise for you there!
    Cheers!

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  12. The accompanying pictures explain everything.

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