It was a dark and gloomy day when I walked over to Capitol Park near my office. I expected the roses to be done blooming, in fact that was one of the reasons I walked over there, to see if it was time to prune my own roses.
There truly is something to be said for the old adage of stopping to smell the roses. When I walk in the garden in the spring or summer I am absorbed by the greenery punctuated with beautiful flowers, the buzzing bees going about their business, the fragrant blooms permeating the air.
The peace garden in Capitol Park truly does bring peace in the middle of the busy day. Who could want more? Surprisingly on that cold, dark day I discovered another kind of peace in the rose garden that I didn’t know I needed. Can you believe that beautiful roses would ever be considered a distraction?
Peace, serenity, tranquility, stillness, fulfillment, harmony. Some faces of peace. But there is another side of peace. It seems that there are plaques scattered through the rose garden with reflections written by school children. I saw thoughts from children in a Muslim day school, from a Jewish school, from an Episcopal school and from several public schools in Sacramento and Stockton. The ideas seemed far beyond the experience level of a fourth, fifth or sixth grader but really encouraged me. Here are the quotes along with examples of people losing and finding peace.
“Peace is the lonely star shining in a black, endless night, the star that never gives up. Slowly it will grow to, not one star, but a halo of eternal light.”
—Tanya Syed, Age 12
Sacramento Area League of Associated Muslims
I’ve heard it mentioned that the sun and the moon are both sources of light: the sun in the daytime and the moon at night. While the moon provides light and a sense of peace and security, it is only a reflection of the sun which provides its own light.
What if we resolve to be that person who creates the light rather than being a reflection of another’s light, like the halo of eternal light mentioned in the quote, for that is a kind of peace, too.
Peace is like a planting. When you plant peace its roots go to all living things.
—Dominique Siquian, grade 5
We’ve probably all had someone who lost their job and subsequently their home. Peace is lost when one can’t even afford the basics that we take for granted. One such person found that peace was planted in his life when he went for an extended stay with family in Florida. The cousins bonded with each other, the parents had a great time, and the man found a new job that was more satisfying to him. A situation that any of us would find stressful grew roots to provide peace for him and his family.
Peace is the words of a dream. Peace is the mist of the ocean painting your face. Peace comes when forgiveness is visible. It is created by giving souls. Peace is the light that touches us inwardly.
—Sean Bahry, Grade 5
St. Michaels Episcopal School
One meditation particularly impressed me because it was written by a six-year-old, who by the way, only lived to be six.
God’s heart is different colors. Every color is a country.
—Jamie Morgan, 1996-2002
We need the dark to be able to appreciate the light. We need stressful moments to appreciate the peace. When I shared these reflections one man told us some of the things that robbed his peace that day. Hearing these thoughts on peace were able to return a balance to his spirit.
I got more than I expected when I visited the rose garden—the peace garden—that day. I saw that the seemingly dead winter can hide much life if we know where to look.
In fact, the barrenness revealed the life that was hidden by the more obvious life of the roses. May you find your own face of peace. May you see that darkness leads to light. May stress give way to tranquility. May you find balance in the many faces of peace.
Shalom, Peace, Namaste