Peace

noun

• Freedom from disturbance; quiet and tranquility.
  • Synonyms: tranquility, calm, restfulness, quietness
• Freedom from or the cessation of war or violence.
  • Synonyms: law and order, lawfulness, order, peacefulness, harmony

 For some reason when we started this project, I never took the time to actually look up the definition of the word peace.  I was struggling to pick a topic to write on today, so in my struggle, I decided to see what Google had to say on the subject.  I typed in the word peace, and the definition was the top result.  I read through the definition, but still had no direction.  I almost posted my “ace in the hole” which is a 15 minute video that I have been holding for a day when I have no inspiration.  On my way to posting the video, I glanced at the definition again, and in one of those eureka moments, caught a nuance that I had missed in my first reading.

The first definition is primarily related to peace on the individual level.  Tranquility, calm, restfulness are all words that I feel apply more directly to an individual than a governmental agency.  I think when I began this project, this is the peace I thought we would be looking for in the spirit of the holidays.  I have been troubled by the lack of personal application and introspection in this little project so far, but I knew that all of the things I had written were important things that I felt needed to be said.  I have been struggling to recognize this month as anything other than a month when it is cold, and frankly felt that I was missing the point in many ways.

A bit of snowy tranquility from last year.

The second definition appears to be specifically related to peace on a societal level.  We look to society to orchestrate law and order, and we look to society to bring an end to war.  An individual can be involved in the pursuit of law and order or peace from war, but bringing those results about on their own is unlikely.  The second definition of peace requires that we work together with others who share our goals and desires for justice and harmony.  This is the peace that I have been primarily writing about.

An occupied society (the example that comes to mind is the French during World War II) can have individuals in it who retain their individual peace, although the society at large lacks the same peace the individual enjoys.  At the same time, a society at peace can have individuals who lack a personal sense of tranquility and calm.  Laws can be enforced while individuals are restless.  The lack of one type of peace does not preclude or guarantee the presence of the other.

In fact, I would suggest that many times we cling to our own sense of individual peace at the cost of societal peace.

This is evidenced in my life currently by a desire to stay at home and read, watch a few episodes of Star Trek, and sleep in my own comfortable bed at night.  Avoiding personal contact is a way of preserving that sought after individual peace, a way to insulate myself from the troubles around me in the world.  As I flip the next page of my book, or start the next episode of Star Trek, I protect myself from the discomfort I may find if I sought out a source of lawlessness or disharmony and lent my efforts to its eradication.  I have felt drawn to the conflict in Syria, but I remain at home because the alternative requires that I sacrifice activities that I find restful.  Essentially, I sacrifice the contribution I could make to efforts of peace in the region, because I hold tightly to my own personal peace.

I suspect that many of us are in the same place.  We are afraid of the personal cost we would pay in our attempt to bring peace to a larger segment of society.  We avoid the homeless on the side of the road because we are afraid of them.  We don’t serve in a soup kitchen because it would take time away from our friends and family.  We do not volunteer in conflict zones because of a fear for our own lives.

In this way the two types of peace are fighting a war of their own inside of us.

I do not suggest that we all run off to Syria, but I do suggest that we become aware of our desire for preservation of our individual peace.  The stories we hear from those who have set aside their personal comforts for the sake of others, seldom includes a strong sense of regret attached to the decision.   They can tell us horror stories of bathrooms without plumbing, or rats climbing over them in their sleep, but they often do it with a sense of wistfulness in their voices.  There is a loneliness for their families and friends, but a new circle of friends who become like family to them in their new situations.  It is as if they find a peace that transcends understanding in their willingness to sacrifice their comforts for others.

Thanks to ANOTHER anonymous donation, we have reached $350 towards our $5000 goal! You guys seriously ROCK! Today I even have the link working!

If you have tried everything in search of personal peace this season and still find yourself lacking, might I suggest a foray into the world of pursuing societal peace?  You may find that you discover a part of yourself you never knew existed, and a peace that you can not explain.

25 Days of Peace (An Introduction)