Has anyone seen peace?

Here is the thing, as probably most of us are, I am afraid of war. Images of misery, injustice, suffering and hatred are poured all over the world on a daily basis. Most of us are familiar with many war related terms and issues. For me these are images and stories. For others it is a daily reality. The world knows war. The world knows it well. Yesterday it hit me. What does peace look like? Is it merely the absence of conflict? If so, do I live in peace? Or is my peace merely sustaining someone else's war?

What is peace?

A vicious circle is sustaining itself by the constant advertising of war. I know what war looks like. That's why I fear war. Since my peace is causing war elsewhere my peace is not peace. My peace is also war. War with consequences elsewhere. In order to begin breaking this circle I want to see peace. Real peace. Fair and balanced. With my brain washed clean I find myself struggling trying to envision peace. Peace is not a bunch of signatures on the next negotiated document. Peace is not negotiable. Peace is not the freedom to feel secure in a world that is far from safe. Freedom is not measured by the amount of products one can consume. Peace is never causing war.

As you see it is quite clear to me what peace is not. Peace has no checkpoints nor peace keepers. Peace does not need to be kept. Peace is ours. Keeping the peace is like keeping ones heart. The only reason for keeping peace is fear of losing it. Peace does not come from fear. This way peace will create more conflict. Keeping peace means losing it. Losing peace will result in more war.

Losing war is to win peace. I want to lose war. Rigged wargames do not lead to peace. Peace does not need to be led nor enforced and there is no roadmap to it. Duality of inner and outer peace makes it hard to see the connection between the two. However I do not believe there is such a thing as inner war. Inner struggle, yes, inner war, I don't think so. War is not human nature. I will not give in to the idea that mankind is evil in itself. Peace is human nature. Always has been, always is and always will be. There is no inner or outer peace. They are the same.