Not a peace within, but a peace you access

 

Van Gogh. Self-Portrait, 1889 

From my journal in July 2013, which I've been rereading.  The family had just come back from trip to Yellowstone National Park.  

Monday. Up at 6. 75° low. I hear the whistle of the local woodpecker a sound. I've missed also the resident crow. What does that peace mean? Interesting that it's not a peace within, but a peace you access. 

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The "local" woodpecker and "resident" crow remind me of "How to Do Nothing" and bioregionalism. These are the sounds of the place... that I'm sitting in, listening to.

I've been thinking about "it's not a peace within, but a peace you access."  That seemed insightful to me, especially in the post-run setting on a bench in Field Park.  The idea seems to be that we have access to the natural peacefulness in the outside world... peace also might mean "the rightness" or "the natural timeline" or "the rolling on of the world" that is distinct from our buzzing brains and our desires to control things.  The idea is against the notion that the peace is sitting there inside our buzzing brains.  

After yesterday's run, I was sitting on a bench in Field Park recognizing the peaceful trees, the space between the trees.  I noted (in my Notes on my phone) sounds: "cicadas, train diesel, steam brake, bell of train, light rustle of leaves in park, air handling unit, distant birds, tennis ball into chain link fence. Another approaching trian. Speeding. No bells. Rapid rattle of wheel trucks on tracks"