Thought For The Day – Friday 17th January 2025
Peace
Peace means an absence of conflict, fighting, war and violence.
Peace also is holistic, referring to compassion, empathy, harmony, happiness, justice, kindness, love, respect, understanding and well-being.
Peace involves the world and ourselves. Outer peace. Inner peace.
The word peace originates from the French words pes and pais which also mean reconciliation (bringing groups together after argument and conflict), silence and agreement.
These French words are themselves derived from the Latin pax, a feminine noun, which further means agreement, tranquility and harmony.
It is all too easy to take peace for granted. Peace in ourselves. Peace in our communities and in the world.
Peace starts with us, our thoughts, our feelings, our words, our actions. It starts with how we treat others, and indeed ourselves. Peace is circular.
As the above French and Latin words suggest, peace is calming and soothing, even involving, at times, silence.
“Blessed are the peacemakers” said Jesus. All religions and moralities speak of the importance of peace and love.
Wednesday of this week marked the 95th birthday of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, the inspirational civil rights, equality, justice and peace campaigner and leader, who was killed in 1968.
Monday is Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Junior Day.
