"For the Love of Peace" © 2012  ~ acrylic by Carol E Fairbanks

".... I swear I will not dishonor my soul with hatred,          

but offer myself humbly as a guardian of nature,                
a healer of misery,                   
as a messenger of wonder,              
as an architect of peace."
                                               ~ Diane Ackerman

                               "Peace Begins with Me"

"Dove of Peace" © 2012 by Carol E Fairbanks

On the day I was born, the world was at war.  With the attack on Pearl Harbor in December of 1941, the United States was drawn into that ominous conflict.  And at the time of my birth, the following January 30th, it was a time of fear and much anxiety for the future of the world.  The hope of "peace on earth", that was proclaimed that first Christmas, seemed to be an impossible dream, as the whole world waged war.   

Seventy one years later, the countries of the world are still searching for a way to make that promise of "peace" a reality.  World leaders come and go, and the violence and killing, often of innocent people, continue somewhere on the planet, in the name of justice and human rights.  When will we learn that the means we use in our quest for "peace" determine the end?  Violent methods will only bring more violence and hatred, never that "peace" that our hearts long for.

So at this time of reflection, at the end of the year, when we celebrate several major religious holidays, I think about the hope that was proclaimed that first Christmas - "Peace on Earth, good will to all."  While I would love to make all conflict among people cease on the planet,  and, that is my prayer, I know as long as the people of earth continue to think competitively and perceive  someone who is different,  as a person to be feared, war and violence will always be with us. If we keep believing that there is not enough of that "good" for everyone, we will forever see fighting for our needs as necessary to our survival.

It is time for all people everywhere to begin to practice a "new" philosophy of life and truth.  And it must begin in each person's heart, the only place where the truth can possibly take root and grow.  As we nurture that growth of "new" belief, with love and compassion for ourselves and others,  we can finally know another way of being and relating to one another.  

It's not like I am suggesting something that has never been thought of before.  Great teachers like Gandhi, Mandela, Jesus and Buddha, as well as many others wise souls, have professed this ancient wisdom all throughout the ages.  But when we hear that talk of peace, we discuss and write and sing about it. Sadly, that idea of "peace" seems to stay in our head, where our brain finally says to us, "It's a nice idea, but practically speaking, it is not realistic!"  So maybe moving those words of "peace" to our hearts, where the truth of our oneness and divinity is recognized and honored, is what is necessary. 

That can only be done through an experience of faith and trust in a  divine power beyond our personal egoic state.  And that requires a quantum leap in consciousness.... that goes way beyond a "them vs. us" mentality to a knowing of our oneness and personal spirituality.  Maybe the only part of us that really left the "garden of Eden" is our minds... the thinking part of us that sees ourselves as separate....as a physical form that happens to have a soul.  

It's time to remember that we are, in truth, spiritual beings, all "birthed from the ONE CREATOR, and are having a shared human experience.  We can choose to suffer, see lack and hurt one another, OR we can finally awaken to that wisdom of oneness that all seekers have known for ages.  We, as spiritual beings, are meant to experience "peace", both within and without.  Peace is our nature, not this destructive illusion of the need for violence. The choice is ours .... to stay in the lies of darkness or to allow the "birth" of love within our hearts.   Our destiny is to finally welcome the "child of Light" to illuminate our way of believing.... to at last know that luminous path to lasting peace on earth is not only possible, it is how things are meant to be. That's the true wonder of the season....the true "peace on earth".

"Peace Crane" (close up) © 2011  ~ acrylic by Carol E. Fairbanks