Let’s Choose To Live In The Joy of Peace
Heart Family of Oakbridge University recently planted a Peace Pole in front of our Unity Church, with the words “May Peace Prevail on Earth”. It is a symbol of our commitment to be the Beacons of Light, who are dynamically alive in Peace and to awaken others to the rewards of LoveJoy!
I begin with the affirmation: “I live in the Joy of Peace”
I think that we all realize that True peace is not found in the absence of noise or chaos, but in the calm that resides deep within our Divine nature and which we can tap into in our everyday lives as well.
The writer Robert Fulghum and Unitarian minister said:
"Peace is not something you wish for; it's something you make, something you do, something you are, and something you give away." - Robert Fulghum
When we experience peace within ourselves, we unlock a joy that is independent of external circumstances. This inner tranquility allows us to move through life with grace, resilience, and LOVE. Peace is not passive, any more than Love is, but an enlightened way to live our lives.
Joy is Awe at the Beauty of God’s Creations
It’s finding freedom in being who my Creator made me to be.
It’s the awe of being alive to see and experience beauty such as the snow on the mountain peaks.
Joy is dancing with the falling leaves of autumn
It’s reveling in the magic of bubbles and seeing children chase after them trying to capture them. Joy sometimes feels as illusive as chasing bubbles, and knowing that there’s more of them to be made when they pop.
Joy is running down a hill at full speed, letting go of control.
Joy is holding a newborn baby and inhaling the God sparkles that she brings.
Joy is trying a new recipe and having it turn our perfectly.
Joy is praying with my whole heart and voice knowing that it is already answered.
Joy is reading a good book by my fireplace.
Joy is being fully in love in whatever and whoever is in front of me!
Joy is curiosity and yearning to learn more, forever expanding.
Joy is learning a new skill that I wasn’t sure I could do, overcoming my fears and accomplishing it.
Joy is realizing that in this life I am playing Hide and Seek with the Divine nature of everyone and everything in my life. It is embracing the present moment as the only time I have in which to truly touch the divine. This is the kind of Joy that Peace brings in my life.
Playing Hide and Seek with God
Why do I say that I play Hide and Seek with God? It’s because I often forget that it’s all the One Presence and I get lost in my own judgements of what things, people and circumstances “should be” according to my standards. I forget that I’m not totally in charge – I’m co-creating and I have a divine partner who has a plan bigger than my own.
I sometimes forget that the universe is benevolent and in my corner. But I have to be clear where my corner is and what I am choosing to experience.
I need to not hide from God, but seek within and consciously choose to find God in every act that is Peace, Love and Joy!
Myrtle Filmore, co-founder of Unity made it clear in her book How to Let God Help You said “No one will deny that God is omnipresent or that God is all, yet we talk about a great many presences, a great many powers, and other things that do not belong to God. When we find that there is only one Presence, the real Presence of infinite goodness, we find no place for the opposite quality. Nations will forget to fight if they would know that all people express the one Life.”
Joy of Peace. It is our birthright to live in this joy of peace! At our very core that is our essence and what we all truly yearn to experience.
It seems self-evident to me that as we live in true peace, that joy always follow.
When we trust that we are divine and that God’s Love is as close as our breath than we truly live in the joyful peace that is the “Fruit of the Spirit”.
Qualities of the Divine Oneness
Source or God’s Loving Energy is like that perfect infinity symbol that flows into ongoing ever-expanding loops and spirals that represent all of the aspects of the divine.
Within peace resides “compassion, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, truth, beauty and love”. When I am in the midst of experiencing any of these qualities I am living in freedom and that freedom brings me to JOY and Peace. To let’s Enjoy Peace!
Let’s Live in LOVEJOY because Peace is present within us, no matter what the world outside is showing us.
To hear the rest of Eva’s message feel free to view the recording of her presentation at the Unity Church on YouTube. https://youtu.be/WNI0h4I48jo