“Speak, move, act in peace, as if you were in prayer. In
truth this is prayer.” Francois Fenelon (1651-1715)
Fenelon’s equation is both simple enough and seemingly
impossible—and I won’t even mention politics, much less war. Our daily lives,
maybe mundane by comparison to outside events that swirl 24/7, are often a
series of encounters that disrupt our inner peace. The slings and arrows of slights
and crosses.
I might reframe his dictum as one phrase: Live in peace.
Of course, we must catch ourselves in the moment, call
ourselves to account before a commission that is not in peace. No hasty, harsh
words from our mouths; no trampling beneath our feet; no harm by our conduct.
A lofty standard, a moment by moment to be sure. To know
the flare to be lighted even before the match is struck.
Edward Abbey (1927-1989) has it right, I think: "The
function of an ideal is not to be realized but, like that of the North Star, to
serve as a guiding point."
Perhaps, then, our path is to recognize our humanity with
humility and to strive to walk as our better selves.
Go in peace, we say.
And so I would humbly offer up the notion that before we go in peace, we must be in peace.
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