One hundred and eight days, 2300 miles, from Fort Worth Texas to Washington, DC, they walked. Step by step in the name of peace, quietly weaving their ways through the highways and by-ways of nine different states. Led by the Venerable Bhikkhu Pannakara, 20 Buddhist Monks made this pilgrimage to draw attention to peace, compassion and non-violence. Like many viewers I felt compelled to watch the walk, sitting each morning as they began their journey for the day, listening to the chanting and using this to mindfully connect with their steps. I marveled at their resilience as the weather declined the further north they moved. I fell in love with Aloka, their companion dog who accompanied them along the way.
My heart grew as the crowds greeting them expanded. Initially walking with little notice, sleeping in fields and cemeteries, this quickly changed as people became aware. Eventually they were welcomed to church halls and community centers, food and shelter gratefully provided by each community, people standing along the highway to experience them and offer food and flowers, welcomed by mayors, governors and senators, protected by local and state troopers. And yes, I cried, tears of appreciation and joy, for if there is anything we need in this world at the moment, it is the message they walked for.
“Make this your peaceful day”. This was the message, a message I now repeat to myself every day upon waking. Peace is not a goal, it is an awakening, a mindful practice; something that begins within us and radiates from within.
In 2002, a young 12-year-old Mattie Stepanak, wrote the following: “We have to make peace an attitude. Then we have to make it a habit. Finally, we must decide to live peace, to share it around the world – not just talk about it.
I find myself thinking about peace a lot, especially given the state of our world- the threat of war, the ongoing violence, and the lack of respect I see for human life. Shortly after I began writing this column, my sense of urgency grew exponentially when the US attacked Iran. Flights are arriving daily in Portugal (where we are at the moment) from the middle east, evacuating their citizens on re-patriation flights. Other countries are doing the same. The heaviness and concern in the air are palpable, everyone wondering what will follow. Will the world be dragged into another world war.
As I reflect on this, I find myself asking what can I do, what is my responsibility? The question is huge and I feel very small. As a single human being, I wonder how I can influence the events of the world, how I can contribute to Peace. In the quiet moments I know that peace begins with me, in my heart. It starts by loving myself and respecting the gifts that I bring to the world in my own unique way. Caroline Myss, in her book Sacred Contracts, refers to this as living our divine potential. “It is discovering the depths of your capacity to create and express love, compassion, generosity and wisdom….your potential motivates you to discover greater purpose and meaning to your life.”
If we wish to see peace on earth, we need not look to the world leaders or our governments for the solution; we need to look to ourselves and ask how we can make a difference through each step we take, each interaction we have. We, every one of us, are the instruments of “peace on earth”. Imagine the world we can create together if each of us takes responsibility for finding the peace within and shining this into the world.
That is not to suggest that we do not hold our leaders accountable. From our individual places of peace, we need also to speak up, express our wishes for a world that differs from the world we have now.
What Can You Do?
I extend to you the following invitation to:
- Stop, look within and define all the things that make you unique and special.
- Live your Divine Potential.
- Place your arms around yourself and give yourself an embrace like no other you have ever given yourself.
- Be at peace in your heart – and ask yourself who are you blaming for something, who are you angry with, who has wronged you. Let it go. Forgive them and, in the forgiving, allow your light to shine even brighter.
- Find a kinder, gentler way to communicate and to tell truth. Pay attention to the words that you use, how you speak to others and your body language. As Charles Handy said, “our words are the dress of our thoughts”.
- Look around you for opportunities to make a difference for others. Practice random acts of kindness, start saying thank-you, tell others what wonderful things you see them doing every day.
- Start each day with an intention to make the world a better place, a place where love is the way.
- Hold our leaders accountable: speak up , write, and walk for peace.
This is the foundation of Peace. If each one of us takes the time to see the light within ourselves and to turn up the dimmer switch, if we make the commitment to connect with others in a positive caring way, peace can no longer elude us. Now is the time to give the most important gift of all – LOVE.
Final Word: The Weight of Nothing
“Tell me the weight of a snowflake,” a coal mouse asked a white dove.
“Nothing more than nothing,” was the answer.
“In that case I must tell you a marvelous story,” the coal mouse said. “I sat on the branch of a fir, close to its trunk, when it began to snow.
Since I didn’t have anything better to do, I counted the snowflakes settling on the twigs and needles of my branch. The number was exactly 3,741,952. “When the next snowflake dropped onto the branch – nothing more than nothing, as you say – the branch broke off.”
The dove, since Noah’s time an authority on the matter, thought about the story for awhile and finally said to herself: “Perhaps there is only one person’s voice lacking for peace to come about in the world.”
Until Next Time
Betty Healey
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