"Good morning! Peace to you."

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It was a recent morning, and I was nearing the end of walk on a glorious Fall day. As I walked alone in silence, I took in all the leaves as they turned their brilliant shades of red, orange and yellow. Fall - my favorite time of year.

Yet as I walked my mind inevitably turned to current events. The muck of this world we have been slogging through lately. As I walked past political sign after political sign, it felt hard to get away from the tensions that are so thick in the air. On a few streets, there were back-to-back neighbors with opposing yard signs, and not just one! I wondered how these neighbors get along (or not) with each other.

Maybe they get along perfectly fine. After all, even Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Antonin Scalia could vigorously disagree and still be friends outside the court. Yet I think all too often our relationships are NOT like that. People these days seem more likely to demean, discount, talk over and past those who hold differing views.

Rather than “working across the aisle” or “building bridges,” it seems most are inclined to “build islands” these days.  And that goes for citizens as well as politicians. So how on earth are we going to move forward? How can we pivot from seeing each other as adversaries, to seeing each other as fellow human beings?

All this was going through my head as I walked along that Fall morning. I’m sure some version of this wondering, or despair, or whatever it is we want to call it… I’m sure some version has been running through your head too.

Then as if to snap me out of my negative mood, something quite unexpected happened. I noticed in my peripheral vision a biker coming up behind me. As he got closer and began to pass me, he called out, “Good morning! Peace to you.” 

Whoa! What?! I was caught off guard by the simple beauty of it.  Of course lots of people say good morning, but this man went one step further to offer peace.  Before my brain could really process it, I stumbled back, "And to you too," hoping he also felt a reciprocal blessing.

It was a simple moment, but one that struck me as quite profound. “How might the world pivot if we all became more regular in offering our blessings to others?,” I wondered.

It didn’t take much for this guy to offer me peace. It was five simple words spoken from the heart. He didn’t need to know my background or political affiliation. He didn’t need to know my religion or occupation. All he knew, I believe, is that we’re all going through something these days… and any human being could sure use a blessing or two. 

It was a great start to my day. And it got me thinking about what could happen if we all were just a little bit more like this man. Offering peace and blessings freely.  Like a pebble thrown into a pond, the goodness and peace and blessings can have a ripple effect.

My friends, you certainly don’t need to be in a church to pass the peace. So let’s get out there and pass some peace freely and generously.  “Good morning. Peace to you.” 

Comments

Sandy Mitten said…
Oh, I love this, Maren. I can relate to what you are saying because when I am out, in the grocery store or wherever if I end up chatting with someone, that I don't know, and I usually do, when we depart I have found myself saying, "Have a Blessed day" and it is amazing that they respond back to me in a similar manner. And it makes me feel peaceful.
October 11, 2020 at 11:28 AM
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