Rest and Peace

Tonight we have a ‘friendship meeting’ about Work and Rest at the Baha’i Centre. For some strange reason I always associate rest — contemplative rest with looking up at the clouds. It is as if the clouds talk to us, and remind us of the wisdom of rest, peace and the beauty of meditation.

There is a beauty in rest
The moment one stops
Looks at the sky
The wise clouds
Floating overhead
That look down
On our struggles

There is a perfection in rest
An opportunity
To take stock
To count one’s breaths
Connect with the heart
Give peace to the mind

There is a kindness in rest
A healing touch
The gentle reminder
That says
“All that chaos
All those demands
Places to go
Things to do
Unimportant ideas
Matters to attend to…

Let them go
Drift away
Like the clouds
The wise clouds
Floating overhead
That look down
On our struggles.”