Peter Goetz's Page

As we evolve, the virtues of peace naturally envelop our bodies like a cloak.  A light, patchwork shroud consisting of twelve sections.  These components are honesty, humility, gratitude, understanding, acceptance, tolerance, patience, forgiveness, graciousness, benevolence, compassion and integrity. 

When dealing with difficult people or situations, this cloak acts as a cushion of tolerance and patience.  This cushion, not only protects us from harm, but also enables us to think before we judgmentally react, verbally or non-verbally.  Negativity directed at us, and negative responses from us, are held in the cloak, allowing us time to better understand the confrontation. Once understood, acceptance emerges and allows us to compassionately and graciously respond; or perhaps in some cases, choose to not respond at all.

This cloak also acts as a warm, soft, nurturing blanket of faith, that if we practice all of the virtues of peace, things will eventually fall into place.  It helps us to be patient and remember that joy will emerge on it’s schedule, not ours.

Another area where the cloak proves very useful is with assumptions and expectations.  Often times, we assume that people possess certain characteristics and qualities and therefore expect them to act a specific way.  When they fail to respond the way we anticipated, we are left with an empty, disappointed feeling. 

Perhaps, the cloak could protect us from assumptions and expectations, the same way that it works with negative thoughts.  While held in the cloak, they could be re-evaluated and if appropriate, relinquished.  The truth is that we cannot possibly predict or control how others will respond to specific situations.  Once our need to control others is surrendered, we can begin to accept that they will fulfill their destiny in their time, on their terms, not ours.

To simplify things, this cloak could be referred to as spiritual integrity.

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