Peace Deeper than Silence

The Sunrise visited us from on high, and we have been transferred from the domain of darkness and death to the kingdom of light and everlasting life. As an added grace, to help us make it to that kingdom, our hearts, minds, souls, and bodies are guided in the way of the peace provided by our Christ. It's a peace that defies all. Even though we are stuck on earth, trapped within ourselves, in full view of the monstrosities that our fellow humans commit every day, we can still feel it. We can't feel it perfectly, as we can feel nothing perfectly here in the shadow lands; but that doesn't make it any less of a miracle, or any less of a reality. I know Jesus was born, lived, died, and rose again, precisely because no one, no thing, could give me such peace while I am still fully sentient, fully aware of what my fellow Christians are suffering, fully aware of the war we are in (and even so I am not as aware as I should be). For lack of a better way to put it, it's a peace that is beyond comprehension.

Unfortunately (or is it really unfortunate? It's because it's so powerful and unearthly and unthinkable that it is so perfect and healing), the latter also means it's hard to put into words. Despite, I did try a few weeks ago and the result is below. It's something that has been swimming around in my head and in my heart for the better part of a year, and it just now came out (so yes, for thinking about it for a year the result may be slightly pathetic :P).

There’s a peace deeper than silence

here beneath these trees.

It’s folly to my shameful past,

but not my final future

(at present it eludes);

For the past crowds, bruises, bites,

recounts horror, promises more,

while the future soothes, quiets, sings—

Breathes on me and tantalizes

with previews of perfection,

tastes of timelessness,

relief from grief;

Yet there’s also something greater

within my grasp,

a beautiful grace, thought

on the brink of comprehension—

Then gone, replaced by reality.

Icy breathing, frozen tears,

burning hearts break.

Snow and ashes mingle

in air thick with ancient whispers.

But deeply rooted secrets say—

‘Peace is still here.’

A miracle! as long as

the malicious thrive

with their wars, lies, hate, crime.

Hurts, yes, and atrocities all—

Yet transitory! so don’t dress me in white,

or plan, print, sign an alliance,

or let the dove fly, free from her cage

(unless you have the urge).

That peace is simply surface tension

waiting to break, fallible—

Instead give me this peace,

that I find with these trees.

Take my hand as we relinquish command

to a peace unequaled by silence—

We’ll let the only perfect Peace

that came to earth

empower us, lead us

from one degree of glory

to the next.

Anyway, last thought before I get off the computer: I'm equally looking forward to about a million and one things about heaven, but I think something that might just be near the top of the list (hooray that in heaven we'll be able to make up our minds!), is that we'll be able to feel perfectly. I think we might just be able to feel thankful enough for what God has done--or well, it will never be enough, but at least we'll be able to feel at capacity. And that capacity will probably infinitely increase. O so happily, we'll be able to finally feel the peace that we get just glimpses of right now. We'll feel the thankfulness that we yearn to feel. And just perhaps we'll also be able to express those feelings with adequate words.

But for now we wait. He came once; He will come again. O come quickly!