Close your eyes for a moment and imagine you are sitting by the fire in your cozy little cottage, looking out your window at a beautiful snow covered field. It is pristine; no one has walked across this glistening carpet of white. Settle back in your comfortable recliner with a marshmallow topped mug of hot chocolate. There is no phone to disturb you and no television making noise in the background. As you gaze out at the landscape, snowflakes begin to fall. With no obligations awaiting you, you allow yourself to drift off to sleep. You are at peace – perfect peace.
What a contrast this is to the realities of this present day world. Remember this phrase? “Stop the world, I want to get off?” Do you ever feel exactly like that? It seems that when we do have a chance to just sit down and relax, it is in front of the T.V. or computer screen. We feel like we have to check our phones for any messages or look at Facebook to make sure we are not missing out on anything. There was a recent report that said how stressed people feel even when on vacation; they worry about work or all they have waiting for them to do when they return.
Perhaps your anxiety is more internal. If you are feeling down because you are lonely or depressed because have no one special in your life, you too are without peace. There are many varying problems, each individual, but weighing us down none the less. We have to quiet the noise, whether it is from all the technical devices or from our constant nagging thoughts.
The majority of us don’t have our own private cottages, surrounded by trees and acres of snow-covered landscape… but we do in our minds and we can go there any time we want. Did you know that if you take your blood pressure when you are stressed and then close your eyes and imagine yourself in these peaceful surroundings for awhile that you can lower your blood pressure? Take it again and you will see the difference.
You have heard the expressions, “Mind over Matter” and “If it’s to be it’s up to me.” Perhaps the best way to achieve a sense of peace is through meditation. To meditate is to reflect on or think deeply and continuously, to ponder. It may take practice, as we often tend to let our negative thoughts creep back into our wandering minds. However, there are specific directions on how to meditate. “Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.” (Philippians 4:8) Anyone can do this. You might want to get a piece of paper and list all the things you can think of that, for you, fall under these categories. Now you have something to focus on when you meditate.
Go to your favorite quiet place, the secluded cove at the beach, under a tree in the forest or that little house in the country. You are thinking… where is that? I can’t get there. Yes you can. Turn off your phone and the T.V., close your eyes and go there in your mind. Once you see the scene perfectly, you can return there again and again. Everyone needs to take the time to rest and restore themselves. Make time to do this on a regular basis; you will be glad you did. You may become so relaxed that you fall asleep… and you will be enjoying perfect peace.