Peace is good for us all, as individuals, as businesses, as a nation, but is only really valued and appreciated after turmoil. We can become complacent when faced with Peace that endures which is dangerous. Stability and growth require Peace.
We humans need constant reminders of the importance and beauty of Peace to prevent us taking it for granted.
Boaters, walkers and canoeists on the canalised section of the River Soar now have a unique opportunity to appreciate and share Peace. On the private land of the Sileby Lock island now stands a beautiful Peace Pole created and carved by local artist and boat-dweller, Angel.
The Pole rises from a cairn of stones, collected and placed by local children and adults. Her idea is for all of us to expand and spread Peace by bringing stones for the cairn and taking some to other places. At this time particularly, with conflict in Ukraine destroying and threatening the world, it is pertinent to reflect on how we are all vital to create and sustain Peace.
The intricacy of this Peace Pole, created from recycled materials, has to be seen to be appreciated. Animals and birds, fish and messages of Peace flow along its length, carved by Angel as a reminder of how nature flourishes in times of Peace. It is a glorious celebration of what we have in our world, and well worth making a trip to see.
The beauty of the River Soar and this stretch of the Leicester line is a fitting place for such a beautiful reminder of peace. Its location is significant too. The Pole stands between the Lock and the weir, The rushing weir which constantly harks back to the situation at some points of the year when heavy rains and melting snow can turn the calm flow of the Soar into a fierce, flooding, threatening torrent. At those times the river is un-navigable. The Lock is man’s attempt to calm and manage the waters, but when the indicator boards show the waters at a red level then nature takes control.
At this time of the year though, this is a lovely stretch to navigate, packed with wildlife and well worth adding to your agenda for a walk, cruise or paddle. The new Peace Pole is an added and important attraction to this glorious route.
Angel’s unique work inspired by Quaker Peace poles across the world, stands in this beautiful corner of Leicestershire as a necessary reminder that we can need to keep the Peace.
Its an issue for the human race that so often we can become complacent when faced with Peace that endures. Complacency can be dangerous. Growth benefits from awareness, stability and peace. That goes for each one of us too – we need Peace to allow us to flourish as individuals.
If you’re on the Soar enjoy a peaceful moment at the Peace Pole – bring your stone to leave some of your peace and take a stone from the cairn to spread peace around where you go.
The glory is, you can take a little bit of the beautiful peace of the Soar with you wherever you go ❤
If you can’t get to the Soar just hold on to not becoming complacent, holding onto what really matters and recognise the need to keep the Peace.
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