The Power of Peace in Turmoil with a Cup of Soup

We utterly deny all outward wars and fightings with outward weapons, for any end or under any

pretence whatsoever. And this is our testimony to the whole world. The spirit of Christ, by which we

are guided, is not changeable, so as once to command us from a thing as evil and again to move unto it;

and we do certainly know, and so testify to the world, that the spirit of Christ, which leads

us into all Truth, will never move us to fight and war against any man with outward weapons, neither 

for the kingdom of Christ, nor for the kingdoms of this world.

-from A Declaration to Charles II, 1661

     Peace is tranquility, meditation, soothing, nurturing ... I want to sleep right now. For me peace is when my kid goes to the bathroom and you know you've got two minutes of down time. That prayerful interlude of God's worship keeps slowly, methodically, and teasingly jogs in front. Then the kid comes out; it's that bad dream so many of us have of trying to get a lifesaving object but an invisible force holds you back.

     I catch up and embrace these times as if quelling my inner rapids. Yessss! I got this. I got this prayer time. I Center Down into worship. Centering Down is Quaker parlance for clearing your minds and settling down to achieve a spiritual focus (see Philadelphia Yearly Meeting, Faith and Practice). But then Life keeps disturbing the focus. Should I have given a bigger tip to the pizza guy? When is my next doctor appointment?

The Fierceness of Peace

DO NOT FUCK WITH ME

Before seeking a centered life, I was a mild mannered executive who'd step over your infant child to get to the top. And I had a stroke and my outward lust turned inward. A calling from God? Couldn't be. I focused on my only child who had to be brought up in the Roman Catholic faith. A given. It's just done that way.

I walked her to school each morning accompanied by my walker and decided why not stay for early rosary recitation and Mass. I have nothing else to do and my kid needed to see Mom do something. The recitation reverberates the body and the smell of incense calms and soothes like a caressing salve. Two years I did this and faith emerged fortifying my soul with an armored Humvee tank.I am Joan of Arc.Then my concern of the destruction of the Middle East piqued my interest.

Piqued. I looked afar and tsked-tsked at why the proven method of non-violent peaceful resistance was not implemented by all sides? Hello? Does Martin Luther King ring a bell? Obama is President of the Free World because of non-violent direct action. I witnessed the Arab Spring and wept. What a beloved sight of people gathering for peace and revolution. I cared. But I was still angry. And this is ok.

I can do something. It feels wonderful to participate in nvda and try to slowly change the awareness and policies of those I view are not keeping the health and well-being of people in their hearts. Turn my fierce anger towards peace. Its a lot more fun and rewarding.

My seeking Spirit has led me to Quakerism. My perfect mixture of fierce anger working for fierce peace.