Peace, like hope, is one of those innately good aspects of life that should be cherished and preserved. It is a word for which no negative connotation exists. Peace is more than just a word, though; it is an idea. It is the best idea. Peace is never a waste of time, and is always beneficial.
Peace, like anything worth grasping, requires work. Peace is a daunting task. Peace is, unfortunately, never as easy as it sounds or should be to attain. Peace asks for great sacrifices from those who are willing to stand up and demand it and peace asks for unwavering support for those who made that choice. Peace demands patience. Patience for its arrival, patience with its cost, patience for a time when the word itself is part of history. Peace yearns for a time when it is remembered for when it wasn’t and cherished for what it is. Peace does not want to be defined, it wants to exist without the necessity of definition.
Peace is for the future. For my future, for your future, for the future of generations to come. Those who are still learning their words will learn the word “peace” as well. Hopefully, they will be shown an example, rather than a book that described what it once was. Peace is a building block for which the entire infrastructure of humanity is built on. Peace is a rock to place a house. Peace is the front door of that house always being open.
Peace is why we gather this time of year and spend time with one another. We sit in our homes, and the homes of loved ones, laughing and remembering the great times we’ve had together, waiting for more good times to come. Peace holds us together.
On the grand scale, peace is hurting, and has been for some time. But the best part about peace is that it is adhesive and contagious. It can spread like wildfire as long as there is a catalyst and a chain to continue it. So this holiday season, as you contemplate the great things in your life, think about what you can do to enrich the lives of others. This is a season for giving. Whether it’s through charity or a simple smile, a giving of yourself is a spreading of peace. So pay attention to the short and fleeting opportunities where it is so simple to continue this spread. Make it endemic. Make it popular. Don’t let it stop on January 1st.
Happy holidays!
