A LIFE OF PEACE (OF MIND)
"Peace is not something you wish for. It is something you make, something you are, something you do, and something you give away." ― Robert Fulghum.
Image Source: Belinda Fewings (Unsplash)
Last week, the topic of my next blog post arrived in the early morning hours when I thought about St. Francis of Assisi, the "patron saint for ecologists- a title honoring his boundless love for animals and nature" (2023). At this point, one may be thinking “What does St. Francis have to do with peace of mind?” While researching his biography, I found interesting facts about this man, which will connect the dots to this week's theme.
Biography.com notes that Francis (Giovanni di Pietro di Bernardone) was born into the life of luxury in Assisi around 1181 A.D. His father was a cloth merchant and a man of great wealth. Consequently, Francis was without want. Surrounded by wine, women, and song (in his teenage years), many considered Francis a sinner. Around 1202, Francis joined the cavalry and fought in a war against Perugia, where most, if not all, his comrades were killed. Because he came from great wealth, enemies imprisoned Francis for over a year before his father could negotiate his release. During that time, Francis's life changed forever as he reported having seen visions of God (2023).
Francis returned home a different man with a mind and body scarred by an unsuccessful campaign against Perugia. Many described him as a shell-shocked soldier (the current terminology is PTSD). During a time of deep prayer at the church of San Damiano, Francis answered the call of Christ to rebuild the Christian church and live a life of poverty (and he did just that). Those who knew him felt he had become mentally ill due to the war and was merely suffering from hallucinations. Undeterred by his detractors, Francis preached the word of God, lived in nature amongst the poor, and even preached to the animals. In 1224, Francis had a vision, and during that moment, he was conferred the stigmata (holy wounds of Christ). Francis carried out his life's mission until his death on October 3rd, 1226, at 44 (2023).
Image Source: Sandi Mager (Unsplash)
So how does this all tie into a life of peace (of mind)? The way I see it, St. Francis lived through a chaotic period in his life and suffered from PTSD as a result. He overcame his struggles with a renewed sense of purpose by following his life's direction. St. Francis achieved "peace of mind" by answering the call to slow down, commune with nature, and serve his fellow human beings.
Like St. Francis, we live in chaotic times; all one needs to do to confirm this is to watch the evening news. Many of us have witnessed or served in several wars (from WWII to the present day) along with the trauma of 9/11 and the most recent pandemic. Our place of work has added stress with longer hours and short staff. How can we find calm amid the storm?
One way we can achieve peace of mind is to follow the lead of St. Francis. If you feel stuck in a vicious circle, but life leads you in a different direction, I encourage you to notice these signs and explore new possibilities based on profound thought and not in the emotional heat of the moment. Take time to consider before making a decision. An adage states that slow and steady wins the race. Breathe in, breathe out before moving on.
If you have any questions, comments, or concerns - don't hesitate to contact me through my email at mindbodybadgeyoga@gmail.com or via the comment sections in this blog. I am here to serve and support you on your quest to rebuild your mind, body, and spirit one breath at a time. Until next time -
Namaste,
Tim
References
St. Francis of Assisi. Retrieved on 8/12/2023 from http://www.biography.com/people/st-francis-of-assisi-21152679.