The Silence of Peace
A Reflection by Fred Schaeffer, OFS

I’ve written many reflections on "silence." That's because the only way to come very close to Jesus is through interior silence, and to a strong degree, this interior peace depends on exterior silence, as well. But that's not the entire picture. The following ideas were written by a nun, probably one who lived a very holy life, who contributed this anonymously to the world. Some of the most beautiful and meaningful things were written by people who did not wish credit for their writings. Their only wish was to live, speak and write for the glory of God.

      INNER PEACE

• A tendency to think and act spontaneously rather than on fears based on past experiences.
• An unmistakable ability to enjoy each moment.
• A loss of interest in judging other people
• A loss of interest in interpreting the actions of others.
• A loss of interest in conflict.
• A loss of ability to worry. (This is a very serious symptom).
• Frequent, overwhelming episodes of appreciation.
• Contented feelings of contentedness with others and nature.
• Frequent attacks of smiling.
• An increasing tendency to let things happen rather than make them happen.
• An increasing susceptibility to the love extended by others, as well as the uncontrollable urge to extend it.   
   
  

Interior Peace is attainable by all of us. It just takes the right disposition and a lot of willpower. And it also takes interior silence. Not only silence as in "stop thinking so hard," but also as in "allow things to happen and don't worry about them." But there is also an exterior silence that comes about when a soul really has Inner Peace. You see, when more of us have this peace, there will be less noise in the world, and in particular, there will be no gunfire anymore, no conflict, no hatred. If you read the lines above, this guide to Inner Peace, it becomes apparent that this can be applied to any religion, any culture, anyone regardless of personal belief, even to people who have no belief at all, and that is the beauty of it all. It doesn't judge people, for if we place people into groups, i.e. by religion or nationality, we are making a judgment. We aren't going to do that, remember?

It will probably take many more years of living for me to get anywhere with "Inner Peace" and Silence, but some of it is already happening, because I put a lot of effort in this. I do a lot of smiling, and guess what? People smile back! This is God's love in action. This is the Holy Spirit, the love between the Father and the Son, forming the Holy Trinity. For a Catholic, this cannot be denied.

I thought for many hours (I've had this definition of Inner Peace for many years) about interior peace and it is so desirable, but we have to overcome all sorts of problems within ourselves to pursue these ideals. There are a number of Saints who are well known for their inner joy: St. Francis of Assisi really stands out here. He used to talk to the animals, as well as to people, and you have to really "exude" inner joy to accomplish this. I've had occasion to work with birds (as in tagging them for science; it's a long story, I won't get into it now), particularly birds of prey and inter-tropical migrants, and birds while being held seem to know, instinctively or otherwise, that they will not be harmed, that they are safe. I can't explain it, but it's true.

I didn't become a Franciscan because St. Francis talked to the birds, but rather, because I saw in Saint Francis's life an inner peace, an inner joy that for many of us is illusive. And, of course, I also followed the call of the Holy Spirit to join the Franciscans. This call came in a curious way. A stranger (later to become a good friend) came to a gathering I was attending, and asked if there were any Franciscans there. A strange request, I thought at the time, but nevertheless, I was curious, and raised my hand and told this woman that I had been a Capuchin-Franciscan novice years before. She asked me if I would please help her to begin a Secular Franciscan Fraternity in Vero Beach. I did, in 1992, with the help of others, of course. Divine Mercy Fraternity is still active at St. Helen Catholic Church, but we pray for new vocations, because many members have died, or moved to other places (usually, as a result of employment); so we're hoping others will join.

Attaining "Inner Peace," means that we have to give something up. Nothing is easy, but with God's Grace anything can be accomplished, as long as one realizes that "with God" means that He is 99.9% of the "team effort," and we are the rest. We have to experience a daily inner conversion of the heart. "Inner Peace" carries a price, my sisters and brothers, the price of effort. You can't buy it, but you must live it, every day, every hour, every minute. Don't be a fanatic about it, for you will never get there. In any spiritual effort I undertake, which includes finding more inner peace and joy, a sense of how far I've come lies in the amount of inner joy I have in dealing with other people.

We are such complex people. Did you know that the most problems that arise are because we cannot forgive other people, and then we cannot even forgive ourselves? Take it from me, it's true. Time and time again, I talk to people, about their problems and it's about something that happened years ago, and they won't forgive the other person, and they are knotted up inside from hate, and guilt. Whole families are at odds with one another because they cannot come to a peaceful settlement. And that's within our own families... then, can you understand that nations and cultural differences set us apart, too? In the eyes of some groups of one religion or the other, we're regarded as "infidels." Can this hate ever be stemmed? Can we be forgiven? Will we forgive those who call us that? That all counts when we seek "Inner Peace." When you hate your sister or brother, your parent, or someone you've never met from another culture... you will not find "Inner Peace." Inner joy is about reconciliation, love, and forgiveness. It is definitely NOT about war. It is wrong for one nation to invade another; there are other ways to settle differences. Peaceful ways.

The result of prayer cannot be categorized in a Yes/No answer. People who have Inner Peace know the value of prayer in their lives. They know, that without prayer, it is much more difficult to find inner joy. But it is not impossible. I know someone who doesn't believe in religion. He acknowledges that there is a God but he doesn't give Him credit for anything. But I fully believe he is a person who has inner peace. It is all in the way you live your life. Look at these "Inner Life" points again... and examine how they can help the way you think and act.

May God continue to bless you and give you His peace!
Fred Schaeffer, OFS (bc201)