I suspect that this is because we have instructed our minds to protect us from everything we do not like in the world. This is such an impossible task: we do not even realise we are doing it. However, if you stop for a moment and notice your thoughts, you will see that the human mind justifies, avoids, blames and seeks to fix the world, trying to keep us safe. In Unity, we know this does not work, yet our mind continues, until we learn the practice of getting still and moving into the silence. This is why meditation is so important and why I write about this again and again. I know how busy my mind can get, and how exhausting it can be if I let my mind run havoc with my thoughts. Enough already! At nearly 62 years young, I want freedom from these thoughts – I want to enjoy peace, love and all the amazing gifts this world has to offer, which is only possible when I get still and seek to go beyond these everyday thoughts to the ‘still, small voice within’. This power of choice is mine to make – I choose peace no matter what. In Mark 4, Jesus rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Peace. Be still!” The wind died down and the sea was completely calm. We can interpret the wind as the turbulent impact of the world around us, with the disciples fear reflecting our own fear and panic when we allow the world to dominate our thoughts and feelings. Jesus said to the wind, peace be still. It is up to us to say to ourselves, peace be still – it is something I find myself doing quite a lot! To help me refocus, I am learning to observe my responses: to step back from them and witness them, instead of being dominated by them. This inner witness or observer is my sacred self, my divine nature, not affected by the world or my thoughts about the world. It is the part of me that is constant, steady, a pure presence and awareness to which I can turn each day. It is from here that I know true joy, peace and freedom. I encourage everyone to stop, step back from their distracted minds, practice centring, getting still and aligning with their sacred self to find the peace within, especially with all that is happening in our world. It is such a simple thing to do – yet it is a skill we need to practice continually as we unlearn old responses and take on the new. Our minds and hearts always hold the solution – stillness and peace. In the stillness our hearts open and soften, our bodies relax and heal and our lives change, as we show up as peace in our world, guided to positive action. Jesus is our guide and example – let us pick up the mantle and choose peace. If you would like to share what has happened to you when choosing peace, please email us at Unity. We love hearing from you. Rev. Kimerie Mapletoft Director of Silent Unity and Daily Word UK 
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