Peace that holds

Ernest Holmes was the founder of a scientific, practical movement of Christianity called Science of Mind. He was a prolific student of all religions, all philosophies and all ideas of his time. The practice was a synthesis of his thinking. He wrote the words below.

In this peace that holds me so gently,
I find strength and protection from all fear or anxiety.
It is in the peace of God in which I feel the love of a Holy Presence.

On this week’s edition of Real Time, Bill Maher interviewed the author of The God Delusion, Richard Dawkins. Mr. Dawkins called those who believe in a god, people with an imaginary friend. Christopher Hitchens’ recent book God is Not Great is another such divinity-buster.

As a person who believes deeply in the god of her own understanding, I am feeling celebratory of these god-busters. For the most part, if you read their work carefully, these writers really aren’t dissing God; they’re dissing organized religions. I’m truly an advocate for disorganized religion, so that suits me just fine. It says to me that people are reaching for the gods of their own understandings.

How then to reconcile the lovely words of Ernest Holmes?

Genuine peace has a gentle hold, an easy embrace, a clasp of recognition, holding yet freeing. Are those who must reject religious tradition free? I don’t know. I do know that I glimpse that freeing peace daily.

I like feeling strong and protected from fear and anxiety. Do you?

Above all, the peace that holds, whether it comes via God or not, feels like love. I’m pretty sure that Mr. Dawkins and Mr. Hitchens know what love is. They both live on earth and relate to humans. Their experience of love might not feel to them like a Holy Presence. More power to them!

For me, the peace that holds is God-generated and I do feel the love. That’s part of why I hold out for peace every day.