What is PEACE for me?

A short word with a deep meaning. Peace, as well as happiness, is difficult to evaluate. When we have it, we take it for granted. And it seems that’s how it should be. Because peace, love, joy and beauty are our nature, our divine foundation.

We are enjoying the sun after a long rain. Appreciate the love that penetrates every cell of the body after we experience the gray turmoil of loneliness. Understand the harmony of health when we live through the burning pain. Unfortunately, the same is peace.

What is peace to me? This question was one of the exercises at the meeting in Tbilisi. People from different countries have gone there. Very different by age, life experience and beliefs. Each of us has our own favorite food, music, colors and styles of clothing.

Unites us the desire to live and the desire to change something for the better. From now on we are together part of the Roots Peace Work Institute by YMCA Europe.

What is PEACE to me?

This is life, home, sky, sun and wind. My peace is in the smile of my parents, in conversations with friends, in a walk down the waterfront of the city during the sunset. My peace is the opportunity to wake up from the alarm clock and get ready for work, a cat’s school, a warm shower with scented gel.

Peace lives in people, in their hearts, eyes, stories. We told each other about the conflicts in the territory of our countries, about cruelty and death. And about life that goes on no matter what. We cried together, and tears as if softened the scars on the heart. We were cheering for a young couple who lived two wars together and got married a few weeks ago. We have shown photos from our smartphones that have a lot of meaning to everyone.

We joked, we hugged, we sang. Because life wins every day. There is room for conflicts in it, but also dialogue, respect, trust.

And we are supposed to live. Plant seeds of love and understanding. And gradually from it will grow trees and flowers, forests and gardens of openness, security and peace.

What is PEACE for me?

PEACE is such a short word with such a vast meaning.

Relating to you what PEACE means for me is very difficult (it would be like relating to you what Happiness means to me – and Happiness is so different for everyone).

When we carry PEACE within us, it becomes an essential component of the whole. We hardly realise it’s there – that’s how normal it feels! Now, the lack of one is a completely different story.

PEACE, LOVE & HAPPINESS are God’s gracious gifts to us All. The three make up the Core of our Essence and Divine Nature.

I am HAPPY when I see the sunshine beaming through the clouds after the rain. I appreciate the Healing Harmony of Healthy Well Being in LOVE, especially having endured the burning sensation of enormous pain. I am grateful for my PEACE today, I feel it penetrating my every cell, especially after having been subjected to a pitiful bitterness of rejection and loneliness.

“What is PEACE for you?” was the question posed at the meet up in Tbilisi, Georgia. People from different backgrounds, ages and beliefs have all come together to unite in Tbilisi. Each was carrying their identity and ethnicity within – we dressed differently, we had different colors, our preferences in music, literature and food were all very different!

So what united us all?

Love of Life and the Desire to bring about positive changes! From now on we are a part of the Peace Work Institute (by YMCA Europe).

What is PEACE for you, Alina?

PEACE is living my Life, having my Home, seeing the Sky, the Sun, feeling the Wind. My PEACE is my parents’ smiling faces, my chats with friends, riverside walks at sunsets to name a few. My PEACE is being able to set my alarm clock and wake up to it, get ready and go to work, teach tricks to my cat, take warm showers with flavorful embracing aromas. The list can go on.

PEACE lives in People, inhabits their hearts. PEACE reflects in their eyes when they share their life’s journeys and stories with you.

Together, we spoke to each other about the conflicts within our nations, about the cruelty and death. Together, we spoke to each other even more about Life, which goes on despite it all. Together, we mourned and cried. And the tears have washed over our scarred hearts, healing the wounds. Together, we celebrated the couple whose relationship has endured two wars and who united paths a few weeks prior to the event.

Together, we pulled out smartphones and shared the photographs that were meaningful to us. Together, we joked, gave hugs, danced and sang, because Life wins every day. The conflicts are there, they systematically come into our lives and lives of those living around us. Yet, we are equipped to seek communication (dialogue), pursuing respect and trust.

Together, we go on living. We go on planting the seeds of Peace, Love and Understanding. And with perseverance and continuous care, we shall soon see the majestic blooming flowers in the miraculous gardens of our own creation. We will walk hand in hand through luscious woods of threes we planted, celebrating our togetherness and unity. Together, we will enable our Planet to breathe Freely, Mindfully, and PEACEfully.

By Alina Revenko, YMCA Kremenchuk – Ukraine.