That evening Jesus’ disciples went down to shore to wait for him. But as darkness came and Jesus still had not returned, they got into the boat and headed on the lake toward Capernaum. Soon a gale swept down upon them, and the lake became turbulent. They had rowed three or four miles when, suddenly, they saw Jesus walking on the waters to the boat. They were terrified. And he called to them, "Don’t be afraid! I am!" Then they were eager to let him into the boat. Afterward, immediately they arrived at their destination.

The above story, certainly meant to be more than a historical account, certainly not merely a Christian or church story, speaks of peace. Jesus can be seen, here, as being a means of peace, of calm, amid tumult and turbulence, for he is a being of peace, his life is one of peaceful being. We see this same in images of the Buddha. Awakened beings are for peace, for they are peace. They invite us, through scriptures, story, tradition, and ritual, to the same peaceful being, sharing peace, the peace that illumines our lives with compassion and kindness. These beings are not at war with others, not against others, for violence cannot transform violence, being against cannot be the root that becomes the fruit of kindly sharing. Any one of us, in any moment, can be a Jesus, be a Buddha, if we choose in that one moment. Possibly, to do this, will take courage. Kindness and compassion toward all beings is not always the priority of those we live among. Yet, we do not have to shout peace from the housetops, we do not have to intend to call attention to ourselves and our wish for peace. No, we can, unless guided to do otherwise, live a life quietly embodying the peace we have been graced to choose.

The story of Jesus on the lake can instruct us here, further, and encourage us, more, for he replies simply, "I am!." Not, "I am this" or "I am that," simply "I am!." We each can speak that "I am!," for we know that we are, like Jesus, amid the changes of the body over time. "I am" eternally moves from our inmost being, and to it are added "this" and "that," but all else the hung on "I am" like so many, varied, and oft-conflicting decorations. We can know we embody peace, when living in the truth "I am!." And, since that is the essence of who we are together, "I am!" ~ for there is only one I am ~ then, peaceful being is the most natural way to live and for us to share with others, human and otherwise.

* * *

we need, as fellow human beings,
to create places of Grace
not necessarily Grace in a religious sense
Grace in a natural sense, a human way, of living-together peacefully

such places are places of Peaceful Being
with leaders who are Beings of Peace
leaders who share leadership ~ leadership-with ~
only humble beings are fit for leadership
and humble beings embody and inspire peace
in and among those around them

these places
are places marked by kindness
not characterized by feelings of superiority
arising from a collective agreement of "right" and "wrong"

these places
will be ~ are ~ healing places
for the many wounded by

not-fitting-in
not-measuring-up
choosing expression of his or her giftedness gladly
choosing courage so not simply to conform
choosing nobility not to support the ignoble
deciding to stand with those judged "weak" by the "strong"
being talked-down-to
being kicked around
being ignored
being gotten rid of

many among us have been deeply wounded,
our sense of safety in this world lost
by what we can call wounding places
these can include

family, workplace, church, school, ... ~
any place can be, or become, a wounding place

now, through technology,
online can be such a place
as persons hurl insults at persons they have never met
only seen as a face on a screen
or spread worldwide malicious rumors

and, thankfully, much attention
is now being brought to the prevalence
of bullying in schools

succinctly, healing places are environments of Love
where persons feel safe to be, to speak
free of being wounded by artless discrimination and overt cruelty

we can use the word "atmosphere" for this
who wants polluted air to breathe?
yet, some places, some groups, are poisonous ~
polluted and polluting others they come into contact with

in healing places persons are seen of equal worth,
the same dignity, regardless of past choices

Love thrives in the present, this moment
and this present
is always the moment we can live together, gently, kindly

persons choosing to be a safe space for others
they form together safe, nonjudgmental places
for we create what we are

but, even alone, one person can be
a safe place, a healing space
a welcome refuge where others can
relax, be, grow, heal, learn to love again

yes, possibly the greatest gift you
can give to others, to this whole world,
is peaceful being

so, how? when? this peaceful being ~
simply, naturally, spontaneously, gladly
this step, each step
one step at a time

* * *

That is the reality of one step. To live your life freely, in peace and harmony, all you have to do is wholeheartedly take care of one step in every moment. In that moment you reach the other shore, because one step is not separate from life, it is the full aliveness of life, interconnected with grass, water, your feelings, your body, and many things. In one step there is a peaceful life. This shore, the other shore, and many beings exist, and all are absorbed into that one step. At that time one step becomes just peaceful life.

*Dainin Katagiri. Each Moment is the Universe.

*Brian Wilcox. "Kindly Light." Flickr.

*(C) Copyright 2019. Brian K. Wilcox. Move cursor over photos for more details.