Finding Peace
January 26, 2010
photo by photobucket
I’ll see about a hundred people over the course of a normal day. That’s a lot of humanity for a guy who tends to be a little more at peace with the world when he’s alone in the woods. Still, it isn’t all bad. There are some folks I come across who tend to stick in my mind for whatever reason. Three of them are stuck there right now.
I passed Robbie Lawson’s house this morning on my way into town and saw him out in the backyard. It was rainy and windy and cold, yet there he was—all sixty pounds of him—waling away on his father’s old punching bag that hung from their oak tree. Robbie’s training, his father told me. Seems there’s a bully problem at school. And as the code of honor among boys precludes involvement of both teachers and parents, Robbie has decided to take care of things himself. Sooner or later that bully’s going to get what’s coming to him.
I saw Davey Jackson at the 7-11 doing what he always does. I’m pretty sure the owners stock up on those cheap single roses that sit by the cash register just for him. Davey stops by every other day or so on his way home from work to buy a scratch-off and a rose for his wife, Marian. The lotto ticket is a vain prayer for a better life. The roses aren’t a token of love as much as apology. Both speak to the same point—Marian’s a hard lady to please.
Among the throng of people at Target this afternoon was Kirk Sensabaugh, who had just returned from Afghanistan. He had the ramrod posture of a Marine and the sad eyes of someone who’d seen too much. It was his desire to go, he told me, and also his desire to go back. “We gotta finish what they started,” he said. Kirk was due for his second tour of duty in a month.
It would seem on the surface those three people have little in common. Seemed so to me, anyway. But the more I thought about them the more I came to realize they did. There was one thing they were each striving for in their own way, whether they realized it or not. And it’s the one thing we’re all striving for, too.
Ask ten people what it is they want in life and you’ll likely get ten different answers. Some will say happiness, others success, other security. There will be at least one “love,” one “fulfillment,” and one “purpose.” But at the root of each of those things lies a longing for one thing alone:
Peace.
That’s what Robbie wanted. Peace not with a schoolyard bully, but with himself. He’s afraid. Very much so. And even though he’d never confess that fear to anyone, it’s something that has gnawed at him. There’s a war raging in his tiny heart, and the only way he’ll find his peace is by confronting the person who holds it hostage.
Peace is what Davey wants, too. An end to the arguments and silence and a return to a love that was once there but is now hidden beneath layers of resentment and dreams unfulfilled.
Peace is also why Kirk has spent what to him was an eternity of months in the frozen mountains of a faraway country. Why he willingly and daily laid his life aside for the benefit of us all. He and those like him face our nightmares for us so we may sleep in safety. And more, they have come to understand what many in our country cannot—there is a peace that can only be found on the other side of war.
They’re searching and striving and hoping. All three of them.
But I wonder if they know the truth of what they seek.
I wonder if Robbie understands that there will always be bullies in his life and that only the least dangerous take the form of people. Or if Davey understands that the fairy tale that is marriage most often is not. Sometimes, many times, love just isn’t enough. And I wonder if Kirk understands that peace, whether obtained through war or instead of it, is a fleeting thing destined to blow away with the slightest breeze.
Because the peace they seek, the peace we all seek, cannot be gotten through our own efforts. It depends on Someone greater than us.
Because God made us for Himself, and there can be no peace unless it is peace in Him.
This post is part of the blog carnival on Peace hosted by Bridget Chumbley. To read more posts about this topic, please go here.
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33 Responses to “Finding Peace”
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I’m a writer whose first novel, Snow Day, will be published by FaithWords in 2010.
But don’t let that fool you. I’m just as confused as anyone.
And that is fine with me, because the great thing about wandering around in the fog is that you never know what you might run into.
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What a great piece. Spoke to my heart a lot. I pray for peace from the Lord very often. There is a quote by St. Rita about peace. It goes something like this, ” There are two kinds of peace, peace of men and Peace of God. That of men is fragile because it is based on fear. That of God is true because it is based on love”
I wholeheartedly agree with your conclusion.
You know the phrase you write about “love not being enough”, I think I heard that some time back in a song too and it really made me ponder it. Then a friend said it once too. It puzzles me quite a bit. Maybe one of these days you can expand on what you understand that phrase to mean. I would really love to hear that, you illustrate things so well.
And His peace surpasses all human understanding. Great post today.
Poignant and deeply thoughtful (as you always are).
May peace be with you.
“Because God made us for Himself, and there can be no peace unless it is peace in Him.”
Amen, Billy. Thanks for this beautiful post… it left me with plenty to ponder.
this is very encouraging to me.
i am very thankful that you share your writing and your faith.
Such beautiful words.
Sometimes I feel more like Robbie than a forty year old woman ought…..
Yes, peace only comes from Him.
Peace is something I want desperately. I want peace in my personal life. In my self. With my God. At least in that last one, I feel like I’m doing all right.
I love how you told Davey Jackson’s story.
And of course, Kirk, and all others carrying hope of America and her loved ones here, are the heroes.
What an awesome piece you’ve woven together – of these three men — and us.
This post is just masterclass writing, Billy.
It’s what we’re all looking for, Billy, and we have to find it first in our own hearts.
Wonderful post, Billy! You and Bridget must be on the same wavelength this week, her quote from Thomas Merton would fit right in here.
Billy,
I’ve said this before: You write the way I want to live. Beautifully. Seamlessly. Spiritually.
Yet I am often disheveled. Cluttered. Fallen.
So I reach for His hand, again and again, and only there do I find peace. And beautiful, seamless spirituality.
Thanks again for stepping beyond yourself and into our lives. I’m applauding inside and out.
You know I’m totally rooting for Robbie because I can’t stand bullies.
Very nicely said Billy.
Thank you for sharing this. I have my own requirement’s list of things needed to finally have peace, a clean house, thriving business. I’ve seen though that this isn’t going to bring me peace. My peace is in Jesus as well you know for yourself. I occasionally go looking to make sure I can’t find better peace else where, but I never do. Jesus’ peace is the real thing.
Awesome, as usual, Billy.
Helen Keller said “I do not want the peace that passeth understanding. I want the understanding which bringeth peace.”
That understanding she is (we all are) searching for can only be found in seeking God.
Oh good grief, Billy. Reading your posts makes me think I should just hang up my pen right now and give up any idea that I could be a writer. This is fantastic. You have such a gift. I love the way you tell your stories, the way you don’t have to state your point. You just tell the story. It’s amazing.
Don’t you dare do that, Kelly. You’re a wonderful writer.
Kelly – What katdish said.
Amen and Amen again!
He alone is the answer to each and every question, asked or unasked.
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. John 14:27
Amen.
Happy Wednesday!
Oh I love this. We strive for peace when it is being handed to us. Thank you for the reminder that our peace is only in Him.
Don’t just love it when God pulls seemingly random things together into a thread that speaks into your life? He is so Good. (and so are you, with the whole writing it down beautifully thing)! Thank you.
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by katdish, Billy Coffey, Billy Coffey, Billy Coffey, Glynn Young and others. Glynn Young said: Finding Peace by @billycoffey. http://bit.ly/9w86nz /A bullied boy, an apologetic husband and a soldier [...]
He is the life that I want, that I have always wanted. It took me years to believe it.
That’s peace, for me. It ends the striving, the hedging, the anxious searching. In Him, I have all.
We can be so thick-headed with this stuff, but it’s still the truth. Nice post.
I loved this! It’s so true — there is no peace except in Him. I’m addicted to that peace! (smile)
Peace is being able to hand it over and not take it back. I am blessed tonight reading this. Thank you sir.
We say we ALL want peace. But do we ALL want peace? Do I work relentlessly toward that goal? Do I want peace globally so our precious young people do not continue to be sacrificed in the pursuit of peace – and when I say OUR precious young people, I mean the world’s precious young people because they ALL pray for peace too. If we ALL want peace why don’t we have it?
I so agree with you and your commenters, Billy, living the best way we can with God’s commandments of love will bring us peace, perhaps the only peace to be found while living in this freedom of choice world. Why doesn’t our love of peace spread throughout the world if we ALL want it. Only our Creator knows why – God must get weary sometimes with our talk of peace and our ways of war — ooeee, you got me going:)!
I hear talk of peace all the time. People are seeking peace and yet they will not find it on this earth. The only peace can be found in a personal relationship with God through Jesus. Heart peace; that’s the true peace.
And yet it is good that people seek it. Yet peace is a person …Jesus.
I loved this post and story of three very different lives seeking the same thing in different ways.
Blessings,
Debbie
Billy,
I just wanted to let you know that I started my day at work by reading this post with my coffee this morning (can’t comment from work because Big Brother blocks it). Had lots of patients to see, so left the office without logging out. One of my colleagues came in the office–bad morning. She saw your post and read it. She said it gave her peace! This gal doesn’t go to church. Not sure what she believes. But I was so glad you were there for her this morning.
You bless.
Great storytelling, and so rich with meaning.
Wow! You write about such profoundly simple things(or should it be simply profound, or both?). And you do it so plainly and powerfully! And you do it without even a hint of arrogance (Some people I know are so brilliant they can strut while they’re sitting down.). In the process of telling your stories, I have a strong impression that you’re sharing truth which can change lives! I really enjoy and admire your work. ~donkimrey