Month: July 2020

“Each one has to find peace from within.  And peace to be real must be unaffected by outside circumstances.”  When I read this quotation by Mahatma Gandhi, I thought about how inner peace, like faith, is a gift from the Creator.  Although it is a gift, we need to honor it by preparing for and nurturing this gift.  We do that by trying to hear and follow the guidance of our inner voice.

Feeling peaceful isn’t the same as feeling happy.  People can have a sense of inner peace during difficult and sad times as well as during the more serene times.  I believe that is what Gandhi meant when he said real peace is not affected by outside circumstances.  True peace is part of our inner reality no matter what is happening in outer reality.  Growing in consciousness adds to peacefulness.  Jungian psychotherapists write about how clients they’ve assisted and they themselves have found that endeavoring to become a more conscious person has resulted in more serenity within.

When I read Gandhi’s quote, I also thought about this verse from the New Testament where Jesus says:  “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives.  Do not let your hearts be troubled; do not be afraid” (John 14:27).  Gandhi’s statement that real peace is not affected “by outside circumstances” is similar to Jesus saying the peace of which he speaks is not “as the world gives.”  They both refer to peace having an inner source.  Sometimes we try to convince ourselves that if only a person we know would change or we had a different job or something from the past hadn’t happened, and so on, we would then have what we need to feel more peaceful.  When we have such thoughts, we need to remind ourselves that true peace does not result from such outer happenings.

My prayer is that all of us will receive, cherish, and nurture the gift of peace.

Twila Paris is a singer, songwriter, and author who has written and recorded many songs based on Christian teachings.  She is creative and talented, and I enjoy listening to the messages of her songs.

One of my favorites is entitled “Undivided Heart” and includes these lyrics:  “Give me an undivided heart; make a new spirit in me.”  For me, having an undivided heart means having the correct spiritual focus, which is possible by being able to discern the right actions to do and words to say in order to be on our spiritual path, and then choosing to do those actions and speak those words.

Because none of us is perfect, we’re not always able to make the correct discernment.  Thus, the need to pray for help from our Creator, just as the words of the song do.  We are often pulled in different directions by family and friends, by the requirements of our work, by societal pressure, and by our ego desires.  For most of us, there are many options from which to choose that affect the decisions we make, and there are many things that can distract us from following our path.

For all of these reasons, it’s essential to try to listen to our inner voice for guidance.  Each time we make this effort, we come closer to having the undivided heart and the new spirit of which Twila Paris sings.

Earlier this evening I looked out the window and saw the sky had become overcast and darker, and I wondered whether it might rain.  A few minutes later it did start raining, quite a downpour, with wind gusts and some lightning and thunder in the distance.  A little later the wind calmed down and the rain became lighter and continued to fall for about a half hour before moving on.  I stood by the screen door to watch the rain coming down and also to hear the sound of it and to smell the freshness that a rainfall brings.

I’ve written several posts about the importance of our connection with nature, usually emphasizing the beauty that we see—the sky, the trees, the animals and birds.  But there are also the sounds and aromas that are part of that connection.  And the sense of touch too, such as when we feel a breeze or the warmth of the sun.  Hearing, seeing, and smelling the rain this evening reminded me of how thankful I am that I’m able to hear and to see and to smell.

It also reminded me of the admiration I have for people who have adapted to not having one or more of the physical senses.  When I see people who are blind walking with a cane, I’m impressed not only with how they have adjusted to not being able to see, but also by their courage.  When I’m at presentations there is usually someone signing for those attending who are deaf, and again I am impressed by the many people who have not let their inability to hear hold them back.

Another thought that came to me this evening as I watched and listened to the rain was how it can be symbolic of life experiences.  Sometimes we find ourselves facing unexpected and difficult challenges that can feel overwhelming and frightening.  The downpour, wind gusts, lightning, and thunder reflected those situations.  And other times things go more smoothly as reflected by the gentle rain, those periods when we feel peaceful.  The quieter times enable us to recognize that going through the more difficult times helps us to grow in qualities such as courage, perseverance, and selflessness.

Embracing both the stormy times and the calmer times helps us to follow our individual life paths and become more whole and grounded persons.