Peace

I have been asked recently if I had 'peace' in my life. Peace. My christian family and friends constantly claim that their faith brings them peace that endures, peace that "passes all understanding".

It makes me chuckle. Let me list some of their logic points:

1. Their faith brings everlasting peace (peace that lasts forever).
2. The world cannot offer such peace.
3. The world can bring joy, but only for a "season" (short while).

This can all be tracked back to biblical verses, just ask a bible thumping christian and I'm sure they'd be happy to show you, but let's take it a step further.

This "everlasting peace" is not evelasting at all. I was there at one time, and now I'm not. This peace doesn't continually wash over me, telling me everything is going to be ok. I have found that it was a peace that was only renewable by practicing those religious activities week in and week out.

I can find that same peace now though through other meditative practices, like listening to music or being with my good friends. Nothing in this world, even religion, can give you that feeling forever and ever, you have to keep going back to it. In fact, I have found that since I departed from religion I have found myself thinking more and more about who I am, than who I was supposed to be concerning my religion. My departure from religion has allowed me to really explore the world, who I am and where I want to go. When I was involved with religion everything in life was focused around it and all I could see is where I was failing to be what I was supposed to be, and that was a person trying to achieve perfection, a goal that was forever unattainable.

Now, the debate has been taken a step further by asking me if I had joy in my life. Well, let me ask those close to me out there. Am I expected to have joy in my life after losing 5 family members in three months time? I think, all things considered, I am doing quite well in the joy category. I know for a fact that no measured depth of faith can overcome that feeling of loss, especially over a two year old nephew. It takes time, whether you find that relief, that peace, that joy, through religion or meditation is your choice, but don't confuse your desired method as the only method available. Take into consideration what you are ritually doing to find that peace or joy in your life and realize that it is what it is, a ritual that you have to keep going back to in order to maintain that feeling of contentment.