Have you ever walked into a room and sensed its tone before actually seeing what was going on? One could easily sense the excitement for the Birthday Guy or Gal that day – for the unveiling of the cake or gifts. Or, perhaps something tragic had happened and the sadness of one could be sensed by all in the room before the event had been related to anyone else. There is something about the power of releasing what we carry into the atmosphere we are in. Meaning, we are more than just a physical being taking up space. When someone laughs and cannot stop, it’s likely that others may also start laughing or have a smirk on their face. Emotions are contagious – we affect each other. We also see this in movies. We willingly watch dramatic or thriller movies to evoke emotions – do we know anyone in the story? Are we ourselves in the story? Likely not. And yet, we pursue and enjoy them continuously.
The same can be said about peace. You notice when someone walks in the room and all seems quiet. They carried something light – something different – inexplicable. They were not anxious or burdened and yet had every reason to be. Why was this? They laughed at the site of problems and challenges. They managed to maintain their joy. “How was this done? And how can I get some of this?” you might have thought. We cannot conjure up joy or force rest. All we can do is obtain it, carry it and release it where ever we are.
Babies, while sleeping, often do this unknowingly. Anyone observing a sleeping child often feels a sense of – let’s be honest – peace and rest. Oh….it’s so nice to not have to worry about anything. They have everything they need. The desire to protect the child from the “woes of the world” is a common response. At the sight of the child at rest, we contemplate our own lives and how it is anything but. The child is a perfect example of the one in the room releasing the power of rest.
What the sleeping child and the person who walked in with peace have in common is the power to release rest in the room they are in, respectively. It’s inspiring to know that we possess such a power to affect a room rather than to always be at the receiving end – powerless. The challenge is to find that Rest and defend it at all costs in hopes that not only will your life be changed by the Peace you carry but truly affect the lives of those around you.