Peace
There is a
concept I have been thinking about a lot lately- the concept of peace. Anyone
that knows me can tell you that I have always identified with the “hippie
movement”, the culture and social change in America in the 1960s and 1970s, the music of
that period, tie-dye, peace symbols, concepts of peace and love, psychedelic
designs, bohemian colors.
In high school
and college, I was often found wearing a tie-dye shirt or wearing a peace
symbol medallion. For years I have drawn a peace symbol in my written
correspondence, just after my name. It has become a signature. A co-worker
joked with me once, “If I see a note with your name, and there is no peace
symbol drawn on it, I know it is a forgery.” Recently, I wore a scarf with
peace symbols on it to a work function. A co-worker noticed the scarf and said,
“Oh look, it has ‘hope signs’ on it.” She had not meant to call them hope
signs. But I loved it.
The symbol we
have come to know as a symbol of peace is very much a sign of hope. It is meant
to represent the foot of the dove, another symbol of peace. It has always been
a very powerful symbol for me.
One type of
peace is an outward peace, or a global peace. People are fighting in armies and
militias every day, in causes and campaigns all around the world. Maybe there
is a religious issue at hand, a land dispute, an oppressive government.
Whatever the reason for conflict, each side believes they are right. As a
result, blood of the “guilty” and “innocent” fill the streets. Gunmen open fire
in schools full of children. Chaos reigns. It is beyond our control.
Thankfully, what
is in our control is inner peace, the peace within us. This can be somewhat of
an amorphous concept for us. We can’t see it, taste it, or touch it. We don’t
know how to describe or define it. For me, peace is a multi-layered concept,
much like the petals of a lotus flower. Serenity, compassion, empathy,
acceptance, tolerance, and love are all found in peace.
Though
bountiful, peace can be elusive. Sometimes it is found in tending a garden. In
a moment of prayer. In meditation. Listening to your favorite music. Watching
your favorite movie. Spending time with the ones you love. Relaxing in a bath.
Reading a book.
The next time
you see a peace symbol, a sign of hope, take a moment and pause. How do you
define peace? Where do you find it? No matter where you find it, how you define
it, I hope you find peace today.
The world needs it. And so do we.
© Esperanza Habla All Rights Reserved
"Hope Sign" by Esperanza Habla
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