Peace today

May today be peace within

May you trust your highest power that you are exactly

where you are meant to be.

May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith.

May you use those gifts that you have received,

and pass on the love that has been given to you.

May you be content knowing you are a child of God.

Let this presence settle into your bones,

and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise, and love.

It is there for each and every one of you.

~ Mother Theresa

Which wolf are you feeding?

Two Wolves

One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people.

He said, "My son, the battle is between 2 "wolves" inside us all. One is Evil. It is anger, envy, jealousy,sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego. The other is Good. It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith."

The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather: "Which wolf wins?"

The old Cherokee simply replied, "The one you feed."

The power of silence

In this rush-rush contemporary world, it can be hard to find silence. And with busy-busy schedules it can be even more difficult to find moments of quiet peace.

Yet, moments of peace are critical to spiritual listening and growth.

They not only allow us to find sweet solace and comfort, they possess a power of themselves that brings depth and richness to our life and to those around us that feel the touch of the calm we find within.

See how nature - trees, flowers, grass - grows in silence;
See the stars, the moon and the sun, how they move in silence...
We need silence to be able to touch souls.

~ Mother Teresa

Peace Pilgrim

Have you ever heard of Peace Pilgrim? I hadn’t until a reader sent me to a web site dedicated to her life and teachings.

Peace Pilgrim is the name of a woman who traveled throughout the United States, mostly on foot, for 28 years on a personal quest to find and spread peace.

The web site states:

From 1953 until 1981 this silver-haired woman, with cheerful obedience to her calling, was a server in the world. As she approached each country hamlet or sprawling city she carried to all she met a message of peace expressed so simply: When enough of us find inner peace, our institutions will become more peaceful and there will be no more occasion for war.

The chapter on the site titled, “Living the Simple Life,” caught my attention. Peace Pilgrim clearly understood that things don’t bring happiness. She explains how to keep only what one absolutely needs and how to discard the rest, and then exults in the freedom and happiness that come from simple living.

If you’ve ever felt burdened by things, or weighted by too many daily responsibilities, you’ll find some illuminating thoughts to ponder in her writing.

Prayer for calm in China

After hearing reports of more tremors in China today, and remembering the thousands of families and children already reeling from devastation and loss, I had to take more time out to pray for peace and calm in that land.

I thought about Jesus Christ stilling the storm with the few simple words, “Peace, be still.” And I asked, can’t we do the same today with the earthquakes in China?
Jesus proved the universe to be mental. What we call physical conditions are mortal mind conditions that can be changed, altered and improved with spiritual understanding.

Mary Baker Eddy learned through experience, too, that prayer can affect the weather and natural conditions on earth.

About the physical realm she wrote, “The physical universe expresses the conscious and unconscious thoughts of mortals.” Science and Health

Logic implies that turbulent conditions on earth are representative of turbulent conditions in mortal thought outlining mortal conditions on earth. To restore peace, love needs to replace that internal discord in public consciousness.

With the upcoming Olympics, there has been a large unleashing, in many parts of the world, of repressed and suppressed hatred toward China over human rights issues. It occurred to me in prayer that this immense mental discord cannot be ignored. It needs to be addressed and ministered to with an understanding love that helps the people of China find peace within their own country and with the rest of the world over these issues.

In the meantime, I pray to see more clearly that innocent people and children cannot suffer from a mindless and merciless tide of events, whether the perceived turmoil takes the form of earthquakes or political acts of intolerance.

Divine Love is powerful enough to relieve pent-up pressure in the earth’s strata or built-up hatred in mortal mind. Love can do the job.

Let us pray… “Peace, be still.”

Meaning of Christmas

A woman called yesterday and agonized, “I don’t get it. What is this Christmas thing all about? The endless gift-giving, the eating, the indulging, the commercialism, the running around and getting stressed out, the people who are left out…and what about that Jesus thing? What is the real meaning of Christmas anyway? I want to know!”

I sympathized with her quandary. In sorting out the meaning of Christmas myself over the years, I believe several practices have been added to the holiday celebration that have little or nothing to do with the real spirit and purpose of the season.

I told my friend that Christmas was about the coming of Christ, or the healing power and presence of God at work our lives now.

I draw my conclusion from what happened in my healing practice last Christmas day.

Normally, my practice is quiet on Christmas day. A few patients might call with emergencies, but most wanting help wait until the next day when the holiday is finished.

Last year, however, was an exception. I had a large number of patients call for help on December 25th, and most with life-threatening crises. I spent a large part of the day in consecrated prayer for my callers, and some wonderful healings happened. But, honestly, there were a couple of times when I started to feel sorry for myself because of the large amount of time I had to spend away from my family. I didn’t entertain these suggestions very long. My family was very understanding, and I made it up to them later, but there was a lesson on the real meaning of Christmas for me to gain, and I’ve been thinking on it ever since.

The real meaning of Christmas, I’ve decided, is all about spiritual healing.

Christmas signifies the coming of Christ. Christ was sent by God to heal humanity of its sin and suffering. Whenever we welcome Christ into our life, we experience healing, moral, physical and spiritual.

To celebrate Christmas is to celebrate the coming of Christ, or healing power of God at work in our lives right here right now.

The real spirit of Christmas is not about over-eating, over-shopping, idling hours away in front of the TV, or generally checking out of life for a day. It’s about God’s love for us, cultivating spiritual mindedness, praying for neighbors in need, being close to God and reflecting God’s healing power. It’s about healing the world of sin and suffering!

And that’s what I was doing last Christmas, helping and healing my neighbor.

I was not missing out at all, but more fully participating in real Christmas, and my family could not miss out either by having me thus occupied because they were supporting what I was doing, and that meant they were participating in the healing activity too and would be blessed accordingly.

I’ve learned my lesson about what real Christmas is, so I expect a more orderly day this year, with fewer emergency calls. I can pray for that outcome ahead of time, you know!!

I still bought Christmas presents this season, will help cook a Christmas dinner tomorrow, and will play games with my family. But the real meaning of Christmas, helping my neighbor spiritually with Christly healing power, will be uppermost in my thought.

With war raging in the Mid-East and in Darfur, tension building around the globe and conflict amidst families large and small, the world cries out for true Christmas peace. Let us embrace our fellowman near and far with Christly love this 25th, (and everyday!) and collectively fulfill the purpose of Christmas—Peace on earth, goodwill toward men.

Have a great day.

Peace and hope

“Never forget that God is able to lift you from fatigue of despair to the buoyancy of hope, and transform dark and desolate valleys into sunlit paths of inner peace.”

~ Martin Luther King

International Day of Peace

You may not realize it, but September 21, 2006, is the International Day of Peace, as declared by the United Nations in 1981. The world certainly could use more peace, and every effort by any organization to promote brotherly love among mankind is worthy of support.

I asked myself this morning, "How can I contribute to worldwide peace from my humble and remote locale here in Kennewick, Washington?

Every thought we think is part of the collective whole and has an impact on humanity's experience. I may not be a national leader making military decisions, but that doesn't mean my prayers aren't just as effective in resolving mental conflict in remote regions. God's harmonizing love is not available only to leaders with famous titles. God's love works through Truth, and Truth knows no boundaries, geographical or political.

Some of my prayers...

I pray for peace in Iraq. That all parties involved let go of their selfish pursuits, personal grievances, and ideological extremes to find common ground in Love where brother can unite with brother for the public good.

I pray that Muslims and Christians everywhere see the good in each other and unite in Love based on that goodness.

I pray for understanding and compassion in Africa, for tribal members to see the child of God in one another and value each life as they do their own.

I pray for the dissolution of political polarization in the US. That Republicans and Democrats cease warring between themselves, and become a model for how differing groups can work together as one for the greater whole.

I pray for young children to be raised in homes of harmony so that when they grow up and go out into the world they have a model of peace embedded in their minds to share with others.

I pray that people around the world value living a life of Love more than they do the pursuit of personal gain, recognition, position and worldly power.

I pray that we all see each other as brothers and sisters united in the family of God which knows no cultural, ethnic, political, religious, social or economic divide.

I pray to see one perfect child of God living in a land of Love where the one Mind reigns and peace is the rule, not the exception.

What's you prayer for the world today?

"Peace begins with a smile"

Mother Teresa said it, “Peace begins with a smile.”

Think how much faster peace would come to the world if we approached everyone we met with a beaming glow of love! Peace not only to the world, but to our home, our workplace, our community, our church, the streets in our town.

Try it today. Greet every person you encounter with a thought of love. Smile!

Every man, woman and youngster is a child of God. It might not always look like it, but behind the mortal picture is a wonderful spiritual creation. Focus on the spiritual individuality, not on the human personality of the people you meet. See what God put in place. Value their good. Behold their spiritual nature made in God’s intelligent, loving image. Love them before they have a chance to say a word or consider a thought toward you.

Smile!

Laugh, enjoy, rejoice, and be happy. Spread God’s love abundantly and don’t hold back.

Love is infinite. It never runs out. It never gets tired, depleted or weak. Love is God, and it operates at full bore every moment, every place, every time. You are Love in action! Let Love happen. Be Love's healing action.

Smile today!

Be God’s presence at work wherever you go. It feels good to love others unselfishly, and it bears the fruit of peace, not only for others, but for you too.

Smile! Its a route to peace.

Don't fight. Unite!

Do you wish there was less fighting in the world? Not just at the international level, but at home, in a marriage, in the workplace, or in your community?

The world could use more peace these days.

Some people believe fighting is inevitable, as if certain countries are doomed to meet in armed confrontation, spouses are supposed to argue, siblings are programmed to pick on each other, and co-workers eventually grate on each other’s nerves. There’s another point of view worth considering though, a world where disagreements are not settled by who yells the loudest or who carries the biggest weapon. A world in which love arbitrates the decisions and forgiveness rules the day.

We can’t do it alone. The human mind needs help to extricate itself from the hate and negativity it perpetuates. But we have help. We have the power of divine Love to dissolve tension. Like walking into the summer sunshine and feeling the warmth of the sun, when we mentally walk into the omnipresence of Love we feel the action of God's Love melting away our fear, anger and resentment.

Next time you’re tempted to get angry or fight, stop the ugly emotion from growing. Refuse to be swayed by hate. Choose a better way. Don’t fight. Unite! Unite with divine Love and let kindness dominate your thought. The world will be a more peaceful place.