The Pace of Peace

I have a confession: Sometimes I react instead of respond.

I used to have a frame sitting on my desk where I had written “Be responsive, not reactive.” This was a good reminder to me that good leadership does not require immediately providing an answer or an action as soon as a question or situation arises. Although it is not healthy or honoring to ignore crisis or concerns, there is wisdom in waiting to respond.

This seems like a good way to live life, and, as I said, I am not always the best at it.

In my last post, I contemplated the Pace of Grace. I have thought of that over the years as simply walking - not rushing ahead and not falling behind. Over the last couple of days I have been thinking about the Pace of Peace. What is the Pace of Peace?

I am coming to realize that I do not have to- and should not! - act or react to every thought or feeling - no matter how big, small, right, permanent, or fleeting. Maybe sometimes the conversation or action or decision can wait for a while.

The Pace of Peace gives space for wisdom to settle in and for life to naturally speak.

Richard Rohr says that there is value when we “hold out for full body knowing.” I want to live at the Pace of Peace, where my whole body knows wholeness and there is no fear. This is not about perfection or living up to particular standards as we respond to all of the realities of life. It is rather a posture where there is space for stillness.

In this space of stillness and waiting, there can be peace and there can be purpose. Perhaps there is something in the Pace of Peace that allows us to see the purpose in all things, even when it doesn’t make sense. Or, maybe the Pace of Peace allows us to simply believe that there IS purpose, even when we don’t quite see it - or may never see or understand it.

I am still learning to pace myself. To walk. To breathe. To respond. What if we all could slow down and grant ourselves space for grace and peace? I have a feeling our lives and our relationships and our beautiful world would be a better place.