This post was originally published in 2014 · Jacob M Hansen

Some time ago, an unknown author penned two important sentences.  I was later given a copy of these words, printed into the side of a mug.   As of now, this mug sits at my desk for daily viewing. It reads:

“Peace.  It does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble, or hard work.  It means to be in the midst of all those things and still be calm in your heart.”

When we hear the word “peace”, its common to think of national peace talks, the end of war, the calm which comes after a storm, or some quiet corner of the world where the sun is shining and the flowers are blooming, where you are free to relax, away from burdensome tasks and too many people–or in other words, the Shire. 

But that isn’t my definition of the word.  What we commonly think of when we hear the word peace is merely freedom from physical conflict, and it is only an outward reflection of an inward condition.  At its simplest, peace is not the calm after the storm; it is the calm in the midst of it. It is direction in the midst of turmoil, acceptance in the midst of doubt, and clarity in the midst of confusion.  

On the flip side, peace is not stillness, rest, or inaction.  One can both be at peace and get things done at the same time.  In fact, that’s when we operate at our best, because peace is a freedom: freedom from fear.

Fear can bind us more strongly, more often, and more deeply than any physical chains we can think of, directly limiting how we think, feel, and act.  Unfortunately, it is a taskmaster that we all, at times, have been and will be slaves to. It is a natural part of the lives of human beings. But that doesn’t mean it has to control you.  

During the Christmas season, we often hear and utter the prayer for peace on earth: the hope that someday the world will stop fighting, take a deep breath, and enjoy life.  Now, while the world will never hold still, people will never seem to be satisfied, injustice will always be present, and misunderstandings, sadness, and fear will always be plentiful, this prayer need not be in vain. 

It need not be in vain because peace is a mindset, not a physical situation.  Whether or not you are at peace is determined not by the condition of your surroundings, but by the condition of your heart: while you cannot always change the storm around you, you can still choose to be calm in the midst of it.

So if you want to make this prayer for peace on earth a reality, start focusing not on whether the world is at peace, but on whether your world is at peace: in your own life, how often are you at peace, and how often have you allowed yourself to be consumed by stress, worry, doubt, or other fears?  If you want freedom and peace for others, then you must first find it for yourself. For you cannot give that which you do not have.

Regardless of your circumstance, the search for peace is a journey that no one can make for you.  Money cannot buy it, comfort and quiet cannot bring it. And while some people are fortunate to stumble upon it early in life, the reason that so many of the rest of us fail to find peace in our lives is that we look in the physical world for that which can only be found within ourselves.  

And that is why I have that mug sitting on my desk: it reminds me that when the all the world is in chaos, it’s up to me to dig deep and reconnect with my personal source of peace.  It is my hope that in the pursuit of freedom for yourself, and for all mankind, that you will seek within yourself, and find peace where you can. By doing so, your life and the life of all those around you will be blessed, and the world will take one step closer to peace on earth.