I have to remind myself and my readers every so often about the meaning of my blog’s title: “My Thoughts on Peace”. I have many peace hero’s, but the one that inspired me the most is Peace Pilgrim who walked over 25000 miles across the United States carrying nothing but a toothbrush and comb, a pen and some paper for letter writing, and two petitions, one to the US congress and the other to the United Nations. She walked continuously from 1953 to 1981. When she completed her mission to deliver her petitions, she continued walking and sharing her message of peace.
Not all peace activists supported Peace. She was criticized for the message that one must start with one’s self in building peace in the world, then move out into the circles of one’s life – family, friends and immediate community, one’s state, then country and then the world. This is what underlies my blog. It is the reason that I write so many blogs about the discovery of self and getting rid of the clutter of toxic attitudes, blogs about family relationships, about friendships. Even as I write about politics, I try to stay away from partisan party politics or even individual legislators and focus on issues that, in my mind, move us toward peace rather than away from it.
I try to be a respecter of persons, even though this is difficult when I see that someone’s attitude, words, or actions harm others. I try to remember that, “Hurt people hurt people.” Healing and forgiveness is the only way to break cycles of hurt. But the road to getting there is a tough one, involving admission, understanding, and a desire change. Tough and it can also be long, sometimes a whole life time. The most painful part for me is to see harm done while the process is dragging on.
I have to depend on miracles I have seen to keep me positive. Just looking at my own circle of friends, I have been privileged to witness inner transformation and then watch as their families and circles of relationships are slowly transformed. I have had my own inner healing that enables me to love and forgive others.
This quote by Mother Terese was recently posted on Facebook. She has become another hero of peace for me.
People are often unreasonable and self-centered.
Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of ulterior motives.
Be kind anyway.
If you are honest, people may cheat you.
Be honest anyway.
If you find happiness, people may be jealous.
Be happy anyway.
The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow.
Do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have and it may never be enough.
Give your best anyway.
For you see, in the end, it is between you and God.
It was never between you and them anyway.
– Mother Teresa
Beautiful…