The 2016 Shari Prestemon Social Justice Interns have graciously agreed to share their experiences with all of us. From time to time, we’ll be posting ‘journal entries’ from Sharell Shippen and Sheryl Garcia. Below is one of these entries.
I believe in this life we are all searching for peace, peace in our world, peace in our communities, our churches and in our homes. In my opinion the highest form of peace is inner peace. That state of being that is free of all stress, anxiety and pressure. Inner peace is being mentally and spiritually free. It is a place of self-knowledge and understanding that allows one to stand strong in the face of adversity and strife with little to no inner turmoil. For some that comes with financial security, for others it is found in interpersonal relationships and still others find it in the practice of spiritual and religious beliefs. This week I had the opportunity to visit with a man that lives outside of what society tells us is ‘normal’. A man who finds his inner peace by withdrawing from our modern society and into the seclusion of the woods. He doesn’t have an apartment or home but a shack that he built himself. He isn’t tapped into a strong Wi-Fi connection and hasn’t spent time acquiring expensive possessions. He has no desire to engage in the rat race but has still found a space of peace. To others he is homeless and should be working on finding permanent housing but he is at peace. In this space he feels free, he is content to in a space where he does not feel judged and he has all of his needs met. It is not my place to tell someone what they ‘need’ in order to be happy. Happiness is subjective.
When I feel my anxiety and stress levels rising I seek out bodies of water, lakes, rivers, ponds, etc. More specifically, I like to sit during sunset and allow all of the stress of the day to fade away as I watch the sun descend and embrace that a new day is coming. It is in those moments that I can hear in a small still voice as the Lord says to me, “Sharell you are enough for me…. smart enough, strong enough, pretty enough, and I love you.” I find comfort in knowing that I am enough for Him and I find inner peace in knowing that He is enough for me. I embrace and understand that peace is something different to everyone and in as many ways as possible I am committed to helping others find their peace. Back Bay, through its programs, is a mission of helping others find peace. Not a prescribed idea of peace but each individual’s own understanding and idea of inner peace.
