Knowing Peace in The Book

I've been receiving notifications to my email for the past month or so, about submitting a story to WorldPulse about Peace and Security and have been thinking what is the best 'angle' to share my thoughts as there has been so much happening on the global front, in our country, in my family circle and I, as an individual where Peace and Security is concerned.

It's in the shower that usually the best of all my thoughts and great ideas come about. There's something special about having water trickle down and spraying you in the face, you close your eyes and receive the most soothing experience of 5 mins of 'peace' in the shower - especially when you are a single parent of 3 children of 16, 13 and 7 who demand your attention in so many different ways.  Being in the shower is my minute of peace - to myself..of course until there is a shout or bang on the door with a question about this and that.

So what is peace? My daughters and I watch the Filipino Drama on TV called 'Doble Kara' about twin sisters who one had a child and the other supposedly kidnapped.  The child, Becka, always tries to maintain 'world peace' - trying to not get on anyone's toes, especially that of her adopted sister and tries her best to maintain happiness throughout by loving both her mothers.

Michael Jackson sang about 'Healing the World' to making it a better place.  Lucky Dube sang  a lot about Peace and Freedom. 

In our country, Papua New Guinea, every day is a story on rape, wife-bashing, murder, break-in-enters, hold-ups, kidnapping, the rise of Diabetes, heart-attacks, cancer, sorcery, death. Day in day out - you fear your own life - will I be next?

There is so much effort globally about bringing peace and harmony - to end war, violence. Nations against nations, group violence on the street, classroom bullying and now even cyber bullying.

How can one be at peace? Can we truly experience peace?

My son loves to watch KungFu Panda, a popular animation about a Panda Bear who became 'the dragon warrior - defender of the valley of Peace' but it seems every time his 'master' - Shifu keeps trying to find 'inner peace' , 'inner peace'.

My safest place to be is in my mother's home - where we currently live. It's my place where I can be me. It's a place that is full of love and security.  Physical security with appropriate fencing and security doors and then just the emotional security of being in 'mama's home' - I recall the book 'Returning to My Mother's House' by Gail Straub - I received this book as part of a program through WorldPulse when I first was introduced to this site some years back.  Coincidentally enough it was the time that I moved back to my mother's home. (lol!) I encourage every female to get this book and read - my daughter has also read it!  so heartwarming and in so many ways one can relate - it brings along also that 'peaceful easy feeling. (Thank you so much WorldPulse for this great read!)

Everyone wants it - Peace. Security. The desire to be safe. Our organisation is trying to build a 'women safe-house' and also there a plans for a juvenile centre - so to keep young people away from the challenges within the main prison camp.

From animation, to online, songs, TV programs, to homes, young and old, communities and nations to the world. We all want to feel secure.

But can one truly experience peace? Was the world -once upon a time ever 'peaceful'?  Like truly peaceful?

I can say that my world has been one with a lot of ups and downs - maybe a lot more downs than ups - but looking back, I am thankful for every 'down moment' of my life because it has brought me to a state of 'peace' that I can say I am content with.

At my lowest point in my life, going through 2 failed relationships, an elope incident that failed completely, being 'disowned' by family, losing all self-confidence, trust in anyone - a time when I felt I would have a serious major meltdown - locked up in my room - I was drawn to searching for something greater and deeper and my searching led me to a book that I had side-lined for a long time and opening of the pages of this book brought me to read many words which brought healing straight to my soul.

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of rightouseness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

Flipping through the pages - promises of hope, peace, restoration.  A library in a book - each book full of hope, security, love. Each chapter and each line. A promise - that everything was going to be OK.

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give you.  I do not give to you as the world gives.  Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

I want that peace!! - was my inner scream. Give me that peace! I want that peace that the world can not give me.

It was at that point, this book and the Man that is mentioned throughout the pages of this book became my closest friend.

 The very first line of this book reads: In the beginning - God created the heaven and the earth and every day for 6 days - the book in its starting pages tells us that He created the land, sky, sea, stars, moon, sun, plants, animals, and mankind and said that it was good. Everything that God created was good  - but it lasted only for the first two chapters in the very beginning.

After that - evil came upon this goodness and so this is where true peace on earth ended - in the first two chapters of this book. You'll have to find this book and read on.

I've come to believe this book.  My faith and my life now revolves around this Book of promises.  I believe in the story of creation and that evil came into this world - and so, I believe that as we continue to live in this world, there is this invisible war that continuously takes place between good and evil and we are the victims of this war. The fight takes place within our hearts, within our minds.  Whether we do evil, or whether we do good - The winner of it is determined by the kind of decision we make. Where good goes, evil follows. Sigh.

So 'the Book' says: Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Let's fill our minds and lives with a lot of positivity so that we can choose and make decisions for good to defeat evil.                   * I watched a video testimony shared by a fellow country woman who had attempted suicide.  It was her way of trying to find peace and comfort. :( and she also came to finding that 'perfect peace' and now being able to share her story in the hope that others may also find theirs.                  *

But - there is always a happy ending  - one day this special book claims - one day soon - all evil will end.  And you find in the second last chapter of this 'Book of Love' says: And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

No matter what your faith is and what you believe in - but I encourage you to find this book - for it brought great healing to my soul and to my life, and I am sure that it will do the same to you too - no matter what the circumstance is. Big or small. It is such a different kind of peace. No matter how noisy, or painful or how much suffering is around us - there truly does exist a Peace that this world can never offer. 

I hope that in your search for peace - you will find it too.

Pic: My daughter did this painting - I thought it fitting as cover image for this post. No God, no peace - Know God, know peace.

 

God bless us all.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xouc54qS4DE&feature=youtu.be