Friday, April 20, 2007

Know Peace

Peace. Sometimes it just finds me. Unexpected, yet undeniable peace. It has been a very busy week. Personally, professionally and nationally, there has been precious little time to take a breath and decompress. Some of it I saw coming and some of it… well no one could know. It is with this recent confluence of commotion in mind, in the midst of this flurry of all sorts of activity that this moment of reflection - this peace - has caught me unaware. And as such so very much more so profoundly accepted.

Much of what lies ahead of me is known; it has been so for days and weeks. I am prepared as much as I can be. Other avenues will present themselves and decisions will need to be made. Still other events, some of which will demand some kind of action or reaction, will likely unfold as well. I want to know. I want to be able to make sense of it all. But I can’t. I can only continue on from this point forward - from this place of peace and meet the next moment and whatever it may bring.

I am tired and the end of this particular go-round is yet some time away. So far, so good and barring any major disasters, all I have to do is what I have to do. That’s all and that’s enough. I have written here about my inability to do just this much… about the time and energy I have expended tying to find ways of avoiding the work that needed to be done. I have made the discovery - I worked harder at avoiding the work than doing the work in the first place would have been. And now, so much of it feels so trivial but I know it’s not.

So here it is, the arrival of the new weekend and with it, a moment of peace. I didn’t create it; it just fell into my lap. I can’t give it away or tell anyone where to find it. I can only implore anyone who might be trying to find it to keep seeking - it’s there. It will become apparent when you least expect it. It will find you and for at least a few precious, fleeting moments, you will know peace - it will be yours.

19 comments:

Anonymous said...

Even a moment of peace can be as restful for a weary heart/mind/soul as a good night's sleep is for a tired body.

I hope your weekend is gentle and calm, and that you find many more peaceful moments.

(Michele sent me tonight.)

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the calming words. I'm seeking peace, and love, and the ability to forgive on many levels -- Perhaps I need to just focus on peace!

Michele sent me this morning!

Snaggle Tooth said...

I got a little peace-time moment this night also, because they let me out of work early so I wouldn't ring-up any OT this pay-period week! I love unexpected relax time, doesn't happen often... (enough)!
Enjoy! Peace 2U n me2!

OldLady Of The Hills said...

That solunds good to me! Let peace come quickly and stay for enough time so one is retored, at least temporarily!

Here from Michele this early A.M. You are up late or early as the case may be...!

OldLady Of The Hills said...

My fingers are tired, too! (LOL) "That SOUNDS good to me! Let peace come quickly and stay for enough time so one is RESTORED, at least temporarily!" Better, I hope.

jac said...

Good morning! I have landed on your blog-step via Michele's and am struck once more, by the theme of synchronicity that seems to be the undercurrent in my life these days. peace. that is what i am feeling more and more often. like you, i never know when it will come or even how long it will last. i'm learning to relish it, savor it, bask in it while it lasts.
i was most struck by your statement "I have made the discovery - I worked harder at avoiding the work than doing the work in the first place would have been." it felt like a slap in the face or more like a bucket of cool water splashed on me--i've been doing that lately. there is one particular task on my plate that i seem to be spending more time and energy avoiding than could have ever been required to complete in the first place. there's a reason for that. maybe i can use this undercurrent of heightened awareness to explore the why behind my prolonged procrastination.
i will pop by to say hi again soon!
nice to read you again!

awareness said...

boy......I could feel a sense of calm as I read. The peace you are writing about is such an internal ahhhhhh feeling, isn't it....a kind of surrendering as well as secure sense of calm?

I love that feeling......and I think you're right, it seems to find you, and not you it. Sometimes we look so hard for the calm to no avail.

The lines of a song I used to sing at Sunday chapels at camp years ago came to mind.......it always left me with a sense of peace singing it with a group of kids.....



the last lines.......

"To take each moment and live each moment in peace eternally.....
Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me.

Have a wonderful weekend Mike.

take care.

muskie.

Paul Nichols said...

Very interesting, Mike. This is the third blog I've seen in the last three days that talks about peace and contentment.

Hmmm? Am I missing out on something?

Good post.

Pat said...

I'm sure you have earned it Mike and - however fleeting - enjoy it knowing it will come again.
At present, here in the UK, we are having lovely spring weather and my garden is a fragrant haven of peace - once i've finished the digging:)
Hi from Michele!

kenju said...

Enjoy that moment of peace, Mike. Maybe you will get lucky and it will stretch out for much longer.

carmilevy said...

I'm always amazed at how moments of peace present themselves in the middle of pure chaos, almost like the beautiful little parkette nestled between three busy downtown streets.

I had such a moment yesterday. I had spent a third straight day barely staying ahead of journalists looking for my perspective on the BlackBerry outage. I was back in the familiar studio, waiting to tape an interview for the CBC that would air nationally that night and through the weekend.

The clock counted down as I reviewed my talking points in my head. Then I drifted into a very calm place, where I felt absolutely at peace that I'd sail through the interview.

Then the producer gave me the 10 second warning and I snapped back into the moment. The interview went fine.

utenzi said...

Michele sent me over, Mike.

Peace. It's a wonderful concept and so nice to enjoy on those rare occasions when it visits us. I'm glad you've been able to partake in that subtle and sublime joy, Mike.

You're right about the additional work that procrastination creates but if you've got that personality type--as so many of us do--it's almost impossible to do things in a timely fashion. You try to convince yourself, but it's an uphill battle.

Bobkat said...

Thanks for your comment Mike, much appreciated. I think my moment of peace will come when this exam is over. Menawhile I hope your moment menas you are enjoying your weekend. Now it's back to the books for me!

Jess said...

Hi Mike

Michele sent me over, and I'm glad to be here!

And you are so right...peace often presents itself in moments when it's least expected. Every moment of it is a gift.

In our crazy world it's easy to think that it doesn't exist, but it does; sometimes we have to open our eyes a little more to it, and sometimes we have to let it find us.

I hope your moments of peace are plentiful, Mike.

Anonymous said...

Enjoy it while it lasts. Hopefully it lasts as long as you need it to.

Anna said...

My moments of peace these days are few and far between...I try to cherish each second. This post only reminds me even more to do so. Thanks!

David Edward said...

peace, I know it, but do not always apply it to my situation.
I am good right now. Thanks

Lee Ann said...

I find the peace in bits and pieces most days. I take it as it comes and soak it up!
The older I get, the more I learn to let the small stuff go...it is a much more restful/peaceful way to live!
Have a great week!

Saur♥Kraut said...

Hello, my name is Saur and I'm a Peace Addict. I have grown to crave it greatly. I enjoy solitude, and calm moments, full of self-indulgence and fine books.

Peace out!