Peace Consciousness, Peace Being!

Vaclav Havel, a playwright and dissident who became President of the Czech Republic after the fall of the Soviet Union, said "Consciousness precedes Being.....the salvation of this human world lies nowhere else than in the human heart, in the human power to reflect.....and in human responsibility." He was addressing the need for all of us to become authentic leaders, self reflective, responsible and compassionate in service of Peace, the only thing that will save "this human world".

I would dare to add that Commitment precedes Consciousness; that when we are committed to being awake and aware, to resting in our hearts even when scared, we tend to stay that way! And commitment requires practice, hourly, daily, weekly, forever!

So, Commitment and Practice precede Consciousness. Consciousness precedes Being. Being precedes Peace. Viola! Now you have the recipe. Make something with it please!

Love,

Darlene

Peace Lessons from Nature

Nature is a great source of Peace.

Parker Palmer in Let Your Life Speak says,"From nature's profligate seeding (in fall) to the great spring giveaway, nature teaches us a steady lesson; if we want to save our lives, we cannot cling to them but must spend them with abandon."

"Profligate", "great giveaway"and "abandon"! Nature's greatest lesson for us may be EFFORTLESS, UNATTACHED GENEROSITY. Not to mention the ability to move gracefully from season to season, holding each as a gift and part of a whole.

Are you enjoying this season? Oh, and I highly recommend Parker Palmer's book.

Love,

Darlene

Me is We for Peace!

I love that there is only a letter difference between 'me' and 'we'. Not only that, if I flip the 'm' over it becomes a 'w'; 'me' becomes 'we'! I think I saw this in one of those cutesy little wisdom pamphlets; a demonstration that just because it's cutesy, doesn't mean it isn't useful.

Wouldn't if be lovely if we could get from 'me' to 'we' that simply in daily life?

Well, I say we can. It might even be easy! It requires us to transform our idea of who 'we' are. It requires a commitment to the notion that we are one and were designed or evolved to be one (try evolving alone!). I was created to be part of a 'we'; a history of WE's, a community of WE's. And the more committed I get to seeing this AND LOVING IT, the more Peace there is for me! And of course for we!

Happiest of Peace Tuesday. Think We. Think Peace.

Love,

Darlene

Let Peace Embrace You

It is one good thing to embrace Peace.
But will you allow it to embrace you?

Will you walk gracefully holding it's arm?
Will you let it cover you with silence?
Will you dance slowly with it?
Will you sing its song?

How would that be?
To be held and loved so completely by Peace.
Could you return the love?

Imagine this today, all day. Please.

Love,

Darlene

Peace Steps

Hindus say "there are many paths to Nirvana". For Gandhi, a Hindu and the master of Peaceful revolution (he got the British to leave India by loving them), each step along the path was as important as the destination; the process as important as the result.

So, too there are many paths to Peace.

What does your Peace process look like? Are you focusing on this step, trusting that each step moves you in the right direction? How could your steps be a dance?

Step, shuffle, step. Step, hop, step!

Love,

Darlene

Peace: poetry and music!

Hello all you poets out there. I'm challenging you to write a Peace poem to share with the blogosphere. Imagine putting your poem to music like Adam Wegener did with his song titled Peace!

Peace by Adam Wegener

I find peace in the noises I'm not hearing.
I find comfort in the buildings I don't see.
I'm at home with all the lights that aren't shining tonight.
It's just the moon, the stars and me.

I find peace in the cars that aren't driving.
I sit back and watch the planes not flying high.
I find home in these four walls that don't surround me.
Know you're there when I look to the sky.

I find silence in the phone that isn't ringing.
I find company though apart from all the rest.
I find quiet when the sirens aren't singing.
Out here it's plain to see that we've been blessed.

You can hear Adam sing his poem by going to www.adamwegener.com

Poetry and music create Peace. Thanks Adam for creating some for us.

Love,

Darlene

Peace is Attractive

Have you ever noticed that when you show up as Peace, others do too? I think it's because Peace is one of those timeless ways of being which, when you embody it, works like the best cosmetic never invented. You radiate love, gratitude and trust.....from the inside out. As Peace you invite others to show up the same way. Eat your heart out Revlon!

So, today on Peace Tuesday show off your Peace glow and see what you attract!

Love,

Darlene