Peace in times of trouble

It's tempting to abandon a Peace commitment when things go awry, when other commit violence.

Willing to consider that these are the very times to practice one's commitment to Peace; to respond with compassion for the victims AND the perpetrators of violence, to be responsible for our complicity?

I guess that's why Peace is a practice and a path, rather than a destination!

Love,
Darlene

Catching and Throwing Peace

Maya Angelou said you "can't go through life with a catchers mitt on both hands. You have to throw something back." Peace requires both catching and throwing: a willingness to sit still and allow Peace to land in your mitt AND a willingness to throw yourself into actions that will create Peace. Both receive and give.

It's always both/and! Always!

Love,
Darlene

A Peace Investment

Fambul Tok is an stunning independent film about reconciliation in post conflict Sierra Leone. For a $1M investment thousands of people in villages all over the country have engaged in forgiveness projects and reconciled with murderers and rapists, making them partners in recreating communities. Their cultural context is that every human being matters and is salvageable; and hanging onto hate and revenge destroys the community.

Alternatively the world court has spent $20M trying the top 6 perpetrators of the conflict! They're not done.

Check it out at fambultok.org.

Peace!

"Peace is hard to be with..............."

From the brilliant AND beautiful Anna Meck, "Peace is hard to be with. Without all the drama and doubt it can feel like nothing!" And nothing can be scary!

If this is your experience (mine too), consider it an invitation to practice, instead of give up.

Cause you know what Winston Churchill said about giving up? Of course you do!

Love,
Darlene

O.K. He said "Never, ever give up"!

The Most Peaceful Nation!

I had the privilege of visiting the most Peaceful nation on earth recently.

Here's why: ranked #1 in health care, education, literacy and per capita income. A philosopher manages their oil reserves, there are few armed police, no death penalty, the longest prison sentence is 21 years! Their prisons focus on rehab and the power of positive expectation. Go to www.dopeace.us and check out the video on Peaceful (and drop dead gorgeous) Norway and its Bastoy Prison. It's amazing!

Oh yeah, the U.S. is ranked 82nd!


Love,
Darlene

Acquiring the spirit of Peace........

"Acquire the spirit of Peace and thousand of souls around you will be saved" said Seraphim. Belief in souls or the saving of them may be irrelevant. When you practice Peace, even briefly, it affects those around you. Whether you know it or not. I promise.

Get your Peace on!

Love,
Darlene

A singing man

A small man sings on Copenhagen's Ostergade; his body twisted, his face deformed. It's 4pm and thousands of people hurry by. He lifts his mouth, pursed as if to kiss the sky. And out comes the clearest, true, pure sound of a child. The crowd seems annoyed, upset at the contradiction; a beautiful voice from that wreck. He twitches as he sings. It doesn't fit.

Only a few of the equally odd looking stop to listen; smiles expand with each note. "Isn't that amazing" beams a skinny old woman all in lime green. A worn out man, perhaps a dock worker, red faced and grizzled, tosses several Krone into the singing man's hat, nodding in appreciation. A few others gather to listen quietly, reverently.

And the man sings. He throws his voice out to bounce off the nearby buildings and ricochet down the Ostergade to be heard for blocks.

Peace!