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Living the Light - Peace

Today there is a heightened awareness of the need for peace in the world. The importance of this is brought to the forefront by the fact that man has pushed the limits of his own well-being and safety by the proliferation of weapons, some frighteningly capable of mass destruction. This dilemma threatens the very existence of our lives and our planet. To counter this impending trend, peace talks ensue, and peace treaties are sought, but the question remains, “how can peace be achieved in a world where our differences have created huge chasms that are so difficult to bridge?”


What does peace really mean in our contemporary society? Is it simply the freedom from war, agreement and harmony among people, a quiet and calm state of mind, or is it something much deeper and profound than any one of these examples?


During the holiday season, there seems to be a greater focus on peaceful thoughts and actions than any other time of the year. Peace is one of the ideals we celebrate and seek to bring into our experience. It’s interesting to see how this is expressed in a variety of ways. It’s a time when many people find it in their hearts to reach out to others with kind words and remembrances in holiday cards, enjoy the traditions of gift giving, and other expressions of love and care. It’s a time of sharing the bounty which was collected throughout the year. What a beautiful time it is when the spread of love, joy, and good cheer overshadows petty disturbances, and brings a sense of calm to an otherwise unsettled world. During the holiday season, there seems to be an underlying realization that we have more in common than our differences might otherwise indicate. In closer examination, this can be identified as a feeling of oneness, that calms the senses and quiets the nerves like a soft blanket of winter snow. Oh, that we might capture these feelings and expressions and share them more throughout the year!


There’s a beautiful Christmas hymn that conveys the reverence of this gentle sense of peace. It’s a song about a calm and bright silent night, and the wonder of a tender and mild newborn child. The words were written in 1816 as a poem by a young Austrian priest, Joseph Mohr. Mohr was inspired when he went for a walk and looked out over a quiet winter-laden town. He was moved by the beauty of the countryside and inspired by the fact that the town was finally at peace following the upheaval of the Napoleonic wars. The verses he wrote were an expression of his gratitude for the relief from conflict and a stillness in nature that touched his soul.


It was Christmas Eve, 1818, when this beautiful song, which has become a perennial favorite, was first performed. Since then, it has been translated into over 300 languages and performed in churches by choirs, on street corners by carolers and in homes by loving families for over 200 years. The lyrics and melody of this song have become part of the collective consciousness. The refrain Silent Night, Holy Night, all is calm, all is bright, serves as a salve to the distressed souls of believers and all who embrace this season as a peaceful respite.


What will it take to see an expression of this kind of peace in our everyday lives? Why does it seem easier during the holiday season to set aside grievances and embrace a sense of calm that at other times seems so elusive?


As we ask these questions, we may come to the realization that as human beings, we have more in common than our differences might otherwise convey. Understanding that this quiet and beautiful sense of peace is indeed the underlying structure of our humanity and the foundation on which our very existence depends. Perhaps it’s time to realize that in order to come to an agreement on peaceful solutions in the world, we must broaden our perspectives. Peace is more than simply guarding our own territory or refusing to look at what is happening to our brothers and sisters all over the world and identifying with their circumstances. If we are to achieve true peace we must understand that we are part of a larger brotherhood, a global society that requires the acceptance that we are all in this together and have similar basic needs and desires. The need for a safe place to call home, food for sustenance, love and nurturing for young children and the elderly, and the desire for meaningful and productive work that allows the full expression of each individual as an integral part of the global community.


This holiday season and beyond, let us envision and embrace this larger sense of our global community. Let us seek to express a continuation of loving thoughts that truly embrace the realization that there is a spark of divine light in every individual that shines through when the trappings of war, fear, want, and turmoil are not allowed to overshadow all that is good with humanity. We can choose to honor the light in others, even when it may not seem evident. In this season of light, may we bring these thoughts and actions to the forefront like never before, and hold them steadfast in our collective consciousness throughout the coming year.


Donna S. Priesmeyer




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