Where is this peace to be found? The answer is clear. In weakness. First of all, in our own weakness, in those places of our hearts where we feel most broken, most insecure, most in agony, most afraid. Why there? Because there, our familiar ways of controlling our world are being stripped away; there we are called to let go from doing much, thinking much, and relying on our self-sufficiency. Right there where we are weakest the peace which is not of this world is hidden.
Henri Nouwen
When a person remains focused on the inconstancy of everything that comes together,
ignorance is abandoned,
and clear knowing [wisdom] arises.
The Buddha, Itivuttaka: The Group of Threes, Iti 3.36;
March 25th, The Feastday of the Annunciation
In her poem “Annunciation,” Denise Levertov suggests that the message the angel Gabriel brings to Mary is one that comes to each of us. We receive an intimation of some purpose larger and more challenging than anything we have imagined for ourselves, but all too often those strange and risky times….
“More often
those moments
when roads of light and storm
open from darkness in a man or woman,
are turned away from
in dread, in a wave of weakness, in despair
and with relief.
Ordinary lives continue.
God does not smite them.
But the gates close, the pathway vanishes.“
Kathleen Norris, Acedia & Me: A Marriage, Monks, and a Writer’s Life
Your mind has very little control over this world. It is neither omniscient nor omnipotent. It cannot control the weather and other natural forces. Nor can it control all people, places, and things around you. You have given your mind an impossible task by asking it to manipulate the world in order to fix your personal inner problems.
If you want to achieve a healthy state of being, stop asking your mind to do this. Just relieve your mind of the job of making sure that everyone and everything will be the way you need them to be so that you can feel better inside.
Michael A. Singer, The Untethered Soul
A bird gets up every morning and sings its song.
It does not wait to hear what other birds are singing, nor does it look to see if another bird is getting more notice. It knows its song innately and sings.
This is nature: knowing your own song
Michele Oka Doner, 1945 – American artist and author
Do your work,
then step back
– the only path to peacefulness.
Lao-Tzu, Tao Te Ching
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