Peace

Peace is not the absence of conflict, but the ability to cope with it.

Mahatma Gandhi

Before Christmas, I was talking to a friend. She told me when she asked her adult son if he had a gift request he said, “Peace.” Now, I suppose he could have been thinking about world peace, however I believe he had in mind something more personal.

Many of us wish for a less frantic life. We long for relief from stress, for some peace of mind. Piled on top the frenzied world we live in, we each have our own challenges and stumbling blocks we confront each day. It doesn’t seem unreasonable to wish for a tiny bit of calm.

When I was growing up, the church service would often begin or end with, Peace be with you.” The response was, “And also with you.” Wishing peace for one another is a nice gesture. I’m just not sure, unless we can access the peace of God, if we can truly give another person peace. It seems peace is something each of us must find for ourselves.

You can pray, meditate, eliminate what you find stressful. A tranquil life is a great goal. The problem is you’re going to be required to deal with the world around you. Serenity can be hard to come by. The best solution might be take Gandhi’s advice and find a way to cope with what ‘s thrown at you with as much grace as you can summon. No one can give you peace. It’s a gift you must give yourself.