Remaining in Peace

Happy Wednesday! I hope you had a good Thanksgiving. Mine ended up being awesome, with a beautiful time spent with my sister and family. And now we’re already in December. I’m so excited for the holidays that are coming up so quickly!

I wanted to write today about remaining in peace amidst difficulty and strife. It’s something that’s come up for me this week as I’ve been navigating some heavier emotions. I can’t pinpoint exactly why, but it feels a lot like worrying about the earth, nature, and the many people who are suffering. I don’t even know at this point whether I’m projecting or not – in therapy in the past, that was often the summation. But our earth is going through a lot. Climate change is happening. People are in prison unfairly. I cycle in and out of these thoughts and I know it isn’t useful unless I’m taking action. I also fundamentally believe my sadness doesn’t help anyone.

At times like this it helps me to remember God’s peace. It was so beautiful – and it is so beautiful. It is truly all-encompassing. While my experience showed this to me in a dramatic and undeniable way, I know I can return to this peace. It requires turning off my mind and opening my heart. Sitting in stillness, praying and meditating. It truly is the peace that passeth all understanding, because it is beyond the scope of my mind and ego.

After my experience, and the subsequent years where I felt my life shift towards living in the light, I was devastated when I realized I would be staying on earth. In some strange recess of my mind I thought that this beautiful experience of God would culminate in me going to heaven. I know that seems strange, it does to me now to write it, but it’s what I assumed. Initially I was upset: God was so beautiful, why did I have to stay here, where there was so much pain and suffering? I even wished to die to return to that feeling of love.

Over time I’ve realized that earth is full of God’s love. We are God’s hands and feet. We are meant to create heaven on earth right here, right now. So when I see the suffering of the planet and of others, I work to remain peaceful in my heart and to radiate that not just with my being, but with my actions. There are so many ways to mend the world. I just have to pray to be shown which way. Often, that way feels like writing and sharing my story.

Wishing you peace always.