The Peace of the Ancients

“Be still before the Lord, and wait patiently for him;

do not fret over those who prosper in their way,

over those who carry out evil devices.

“Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath.

Do not fret—it only leads to evil.

For the wicked shall be cut off,

but those who wait on the Lord shall inherit the land.”

~Psalm 37:7-9 (NRSV).

This whole psalm is a beautiful byword for life, but what is captured in the essence of this passage above is a whole paradigm for living that makes for us a flourish right through life.

It has taken me a long time to learn how to not panic. Perhaps you identify.

Perhaps it’s because I’m an eldest child or for some other reasons. Diligence has often been morphed by a fear of failure and that, quite often, has propelled me to places at times regretful for lack of insight.

Still, God is abundantly patient with all of us. Learning opportunities God gives and, generally, plenty there are those to spare.

I imagine the peace of experience as a sixty-something woman—ageing gracefully in her years, sure, but with such a reflective frame and perspective a younger woman or man could only dream of.

This is peace: to know what is important in life; and redoubled, to do it.

The peace of the ancients ushers a whisper of the continuity of emotion, and to the gentle breath, rarely fazed for what seems critical right now. Most things are done with aplomb, notwithstanding pressure. It even manages a smile, and that eked from the soul. Ironically, such peace is the acceptance of imperfection.

The ancients appreciated the balances of life—those of relative importance. We too will know their peace as we approach life from a broader perspective. All things are working together for good, despite the fact we don’t see everything.

© 2011 S. J. Wickham.

Graphic Credit: National Geographic.