I was with a group of friends last night and our discussion centered around the attainment of peace. \u00a0It’s illusive, for sure. \u00a0We can want it desperately and even be living it, but in the blink of an eye the ego can high-jack us into making judgments and all peace is gone. \u00a0The antidote is to keep turning our judgments over to our Higher Power to whisk them away. \u00a0If we surrender them, peace will be our reward. \u00a0If . . .<\/p>\n
One member of our group mentioned seeing a bumper sticker recently that read: World Peace Flows From Inner Peace. \u00a0I like that. \u00a0In fact, I think it’s the only certain way of realizing world peace. \u00a0It reminds me of the Peace Song that is sung at the end of many Unity Church services. \u00a0The final phrase of the song is “peace begins with me.” \u00a0The first time I heard the song was at a Unity Church in Golden Valley, MN in 1976. \u00a0I was so moved by the message that I cried. \u00a0Truth is always heard loud and clear.<\/p>\n
I would have to say that my fondest hope, at this stage of my life, is that I reflect peace to the other people I encounter every day. \u00a0Being a “model” for the peaceful choice is clearly a worthy, daily purpose. \u00a0As I age, I seek for the simpler path. \u00a0Joining fruitless arguments doesn’t appeal to me any more. \u00a0I may have to bite my tongue, and do occasionally, but that’s a far more grace-filled way to live than how I presented myself in the first four decades of life. Then I loved the battleground. \u00a0It seemed unavoidable. \u00a0I had learned how to excel in that role during my childhood while living in a household where battles were constant.<\/p>\n
Making a different choice about how to act, how to speak, how to listen and witness the lives of others, has changed every element of my life. \u00a0My relationships with my family are pleasant. \u00a0My husband and I are best friends. And I walk into every experience with a hopeful, expectant heart. \u00a0None of these things were true at an earlier time. \u00a0And nothing on the outside changed. \u00a0It was an inside job. \u00a0It will always need to be an inside job. \u00a0And that’s the good news for all of us. \u00a0Others can’t make us do any thing against our will. \u00a0If we want to enjoy peace-filled lives, we can. \u00a0The added benefit is that that choice adds to the peace of the world at large. \u00a0That’s a lofty idea. \u00a0But ever so true.<\/p>\n
Do you want to add to world peace? \u00a0It’s a purpose worth living and savoring and modeling for others. \u00a0Give peace a chance<\/em><\/strong>, as John Lennon said, and feel your heart at rest.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" I was with a group of friends last night and our discussion centered around the attainment of peace. \u00a0It’s illusive, for sure. \u00a0We can want it desperately and even be living it, but in the blink of an eye the ego can high-jack us into making judgments and all peace is gone. \u00a0The antidote is […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[4,10],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1300","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-circle-of-family-and-friends-you-and-your-personal-community","category-reflections-in-the-mirror-you-and-yourself"],"yoast_head":"\n