Peace
is a daily, a weekly, a monthly process, gradually changing opinions, slowly eroding old
barriers, and building new structures. ~John F. Kennedy
A few months ago, as I was writing in my journal, the idea came to
me to start a “Living Love Circle” to further world peace. As I thought about it, a wave of joyous
energy swept through my body, inspiring me to quickly send an e-mail to a small
group of friends asking them to join me in the adventure. I told them I had no idea how to accomplish
this lofty goal but that by joining together I knew we would be provided with
everything we needed to move forward.
I received no acceptances from my friends – not one – and after I
reflected on some of their comments it was obvious they mirrored the mind-set
of millions of individuals around the world when it came to seeking peace. Their no-thank-you rationale included such
thoughts as: The current global problems
of cultural, political and religious differences are too complex and too deeply
imbedded; people are too angry-greedy-hate-filled-ignorant to care about their
fellow human beings … and finally, there are too few people on Earth who can
get along well with their families, let alone with everybody else. I was brought up short.
I thought all this over for a few days and then I said “yes” to
going solo with a Living Love Circle. I
was certain that after I dropped back and allowed the full gestation of the
idea – that others would be drawn to the cause. Of course I realized that at
81-years of age it’s pretty obvious that world peace will not be achieved in my
lifetime and certainly not by me alone.
Yet there’s a deep concern gnawing within me that unless we each do what
we can – alone or not, here and now – world peace probably won’t be achieved at
any time hereafter.
The truth in my friends’ reasons for declining reminded me of
another Truth. When we think we can do
something, we can – and when we think we can’t, we’re right again. And every trip, no matter how long, begins
with that first step that gets you up and on your way.
After some more reflection, I realized that I’ve already been on
this solo world peace path for some time, yet without the typical circle
concept. I’ve written a number of essays
on the subject and most recently wrote one that I believe holds a major key to
assisting world peace. The process
starts within by mastering conflict resolution in ourselves. This translates to actually living peace and
sharing the powerful energy with others to help counteract the existing mass of
negative energy that hovers over the Earth like a dark cloud.
True it will take time and millions of peace-filled “soloists” to
make it happen, yet living peace is something we can do within ourselves, and
no one can do it for us except ourselves.
In the past I’ve been content with just writing about what came
through me concerning world peace, but now I wanted to know more about the
history surrounding humanity’s quest for world peace, which obviously has started
and stopped countless times. I also
wanted to pay homage to the higher profile peacemakers of the past – as well as
to honor the millions then and through the millennia who were unknown and still
are today. It seems many souls, like my
friends, choose to go solo and use prayer and other under-the-radar actions.
I was delighted to discover an impressive website that listed many
organizations seeking world peace and a multitude of peacemakers known to
history starting with the prophet Moses (BCE), who united the tribes of Israel,
wrote the Torah and the Ten Commandments. Among the many names listed I recognized
such peacemakers as Lao Tzu, a philosopher from the sixth century BCE, to Siddhartha-Buddha,
(563-483 BCE), Jesus of Nazareth (6 BCE to 35 AD), and Muhammad (570-632 AD),
who unified Arabia and wrote the Qur’an. There were hundreds of other well-known
names through ensuing centuries such as: St. Francis of Assisi, Joan of Arc,
Immanuel Kant, Thomas Jefferson, Victor Hugo, Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther
King, Nelson Mandela, Mother Teresa, Mahatma Gandhi, and on and on and on.
At that point, I was filled with gratitude for every soul who
focused their lives on elevating the consciousness of humanity and knowing it
or not, also furthering the cause of world peace on Earth.
I thought that greater minds than mine had probably already
established guidelines as well as how-to guidebooks that delve deeply into the
complexities of modern-day life (religious and political differences, as well
as cultural beliefs) that cause such highly emotional dislike and distrust of
others. The biggest problem is, of
course, that the Truth in these issues must be addressed and acted upon by
those in power using common sense and diplomacy to identify areas of cooperation
and unity. The rest is up to us … all
those “soloists” out there.
I googled “How to achieve world peace,” and up came a healthy list
of possibilities. I was drawn to a book
by Crandall R. Kline, Jr., titled “Peace Within Our Grasp: Making the Dream a
Reality.”
Robert Stewart, who wrote the Preamble for the book said that the
author has done the world a great service by demonstrating in his “how-to
manual” that world peace is achievable.
He added, “It is the best book on how to achieve world peace I’ve ever
read.
After scanning the lengthy summary, I recalled from the author’s
bio material that Kline had spent 40 years studying why we have wars. His unique approach to achieving world peace
was to quote the experts then identify and interpret what seem to be rational
ideas. I especially liked his
recommendation that all people are
required to be “activist intelligentsia” and by using high-tech communication
keeping the government from straying from the path of peace.
In addition to writing essays about the importance of coming to
peace within ourselves, I’ve also written about another major issue that when
resolved would hasten the process of world peace. And, it wasn’t covered in Kline’s treatise,
or any other online source I clicked on.
That issue is: FEAR.
I positively believe that we can place all the current critical
problems facing our country and the world into one big lump, and with only a
little digging we will find the defining thread that ties them all together. No matter the challenge – fear – is the
underlying factor.
At the core of every challenge lies this basic threat. We are fearful of anyone who is different in
actions, beliefs, looks or speech. We
are afraid of events taking place in the world, and those that may take
place. We are afraid of life and death
and everything in between. We are afraid
of who we are, so we spend our lives locked in a façade so that we won’t be
rejected by others who are doing the same thing.
Most of us live our lives totally unaware and fearful of the
incredible life force that is within us and everything in the universe. Instead we focus on the external, which is
sated with the nonfulfilling and crazy-making reality of a fear-based society.
I’ve learned that until we can individually face our own fears and
take the journey within to know ourselves, we will never have the understanding
to accept others fully, no matter the differences. Until we have control over ourselves we will
continue individually – and as countries – seeking to control others so that we
have enough of whatever it is we need to make us feel secure: love, money,
power, prestige or possessions.
And until we reconnect with the eternal and sublime energy that is
within us and everything in the universe, we will continue to feel the illusion
of separation which keeps us locked in our fear.
This is the key, the answer, to all the problems in our lives, our
country and the world. Once we open to
the unconditional love, peace, support and wisdom that every heart yearns for,
we will Know we have discovered the greatest gift Life has to offer. We will become the consciously aware
spiritual human beings we were born to be.
We will no longer desire or need to have power over others. We will honor ourselves, all life and the
Earth. We will open to living from a
higher conscious awareness. Our very
presence will help to raise the energy level of others, and in the process help
us heal the Earth and every human being.
And we will be on our way to World Peace.
This is the way life was meant to work. This is why we are here on Earth. Our true destiny is to
become fully aware of our inherent spirituality, to learn how to
become co-creators with this incredible energy and to aid in the conscious
evolution of ourselves and the Earth.
In this time of global crisis, there remains a great opportunity
to a great change for the better. And
there is no doubt that the path to this end lies within each of us, in our solo
selves. As we accept our birthright of
being individualized expressions of the Greatest Power on Earth, we master our
fear, resolve inner conflicts and come to peace within ourselves. Then one by one we’re birthing a new cultural
paradigm on Earth, and ushering in lasting peace.
Affirmation for World Peace
I
consciously align my intention with the energy of Living Love.
I
visualize the energy rising from this sacred circle to embrace Mother Earth and all its inhabitants.
The
Earth is healed and its consciousness protected.
The
evolution of all souls is harmoniously advanced.
Peace,
Love and Cooperation now manifest on Earth.
♥ And So It Is!
__________________________________
Copyright© 2015 by Fern Stewart Welch
The author’s books: “Becoming a Spiritual Warrior of the Heart,
(April 2013); “Tea with Elisabeth,” recipient of the 2010 Silver Award for
Non-fiction: “You Can Live A Balanced Life In An Unbalanced World,” (Nov.
2008); and “The Heart Knows the Way – How to Follow Your Heart to a Conscious
Connection with the Divine Spirit Within,” (Feb. 2008), are available at
Amazon.com, other online booksellers, as well as bookstore chains such as
Barnes & Noble.
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