Dona Nobis Pacem

If there was ever a good reason to start writing on Creating Peace again, this was it.

What a wonderful idea to have peace floating around the blogsphere and hundreds or thousands of people all writing about world peace. What we focus on and notice, we create. I think if we focus on peace, ultimately we might just create a peaceful world.http://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gif

How can people writing about peace create it? We start a dialog. We start talking. We get to read other people's ideas. We start to understand that the concept of peace is bigger than any of us can really imagine. We start to think about it and focus on it.

We stop being women and men or people who live in a certain state or country and we just become humans talking about peace. We stop dividing. We stop looking at differences and start to see that one thing maybe we can all want is peace. Ultimately once we start looking at our common ground, there isn't anything we can't do.

I'm glad Mimi came up with this idea. What a small thing to start doing, but how important.

Working Together

We had a garage sale ourselves several weeks ago. About two weeks ago I got around to calling the Salvation Army. They refused most of our stuff. We had two bikes, both of which needed to be cleaned up and one needed a new tire. We had a dining room table in fair to good condition. The table was beautifully refinished but the chairs were a bit dinged because we hadn't refinished them. Still the wood was solid and they were something that could be used for many years. We had a perfectly decent desk chair. Salvation Army wouldn't take them.

They said that the SA had had to dump too much stuff in the landfills and couldn't afford to keep taking everything. What I don't understand about this is the fact that this is a national organization. I realize that the people in my local neighborhood that are likely to visit my store, may not want this stuff. But what about other parts of the US. How is it that they don't have some place where they can sort of decide what areas need bicycles or tables? How is it that they don't seem to have a central area? Some areas do take these items, but not others.

This seems like this is a large organization that could work together better. I think that's a metaphor for what a lot of us go through. We each have things. But we can't always reach those people or places we need to. Instead of reaching out to others who are like minded or maybe don't even seem like minded to spread our influence or our abilities, we let them pass by and toss them out. We need to start using our resources, spiritual and physical.

Volunteer Work

So I'm starting to write again. I am out there wondering how to spend my days. I have some part time work as an acupuncturist, but this still leaves me with a lot of time on my hands. I didn't mind at my home. I knew people. I need to get out and be part of this community.

I am wondering what sorts of charities there are that perhaps I could volunteer at. I'd love to do something with a peace group or peace activist but I don't really know where to start. If anyone has any ideas, that would be great. Links to websites where I can go out and check out the place are much appreciated.

House Cleaning.

I of course have been having trouble getting back into writing. I think that a lot of it was being overwhelmed with stuff around the house.

Trouble getting done what you need to get done? Maybe you need your house cleaned. We often deny ourselves this luxuary and tell ourselves that we don't need it. I had mine cleaned last week and I'm busy picking things up, feel I have more clarity about stuff and starting to move forward in other areas of my life.

We all need nice, harmonious surroundings to find peace. Maybe we need to start with the foundation. If you think you need to clean your home and give yourself a hard time for more than a week because you haven't gotten it all done, then hire someone to come in. You'll be amazed at what more you can get done without worrying about the house.

What Are You Doing

I am appalled at where my country is going. I feel like I should blog more but then I can't even think where to start. How do I maintain my peace in the face of this fear that lurks?

It's an interesting question. We must still find those ways that create peace for us--whether it is prayer, meditation, a circle or a walk in the woods. We also need to speak out.

As a child I often wondered how the entire country of Germany could be fooled by the man that Hitler was. How did he come to power? I know now. It wasn't that they all didn't see it. Those who did were quietly silenced in a muriad of different ways. The nation was divided. No doubt those who understood what was happening felt alone. Often they left their world to move to another country. Or they stayed quiet and helped as best they can.

The US hasn't not become this government but we are walking that road. The pundits accuse the NY Times of treason, yet they are supposed to be a free press. If a free press has to determine what will and will not make a government look good, then how free are they? If we don't have a free press, then how does anyone get to the truth of the matter? How does anyone make their own informed decision?

I used to dream of being a journalist until I grew old enough to realize I didn't have what it took to ask the hard questions. I've been a librarian. Free speech is an issue near and dear to my heart. A free country is obligated to offer access to a variety of information for everyone.

Our freedom of speech and of information is eroding. The question is, how far down this slippery slope will allow it to slide? When we will wake up and do something? Let's hope it's not too late.

This may not seem like a peaceful post. Sometimes we have to take action. Sometimes the only way to peace is looking at the issue and seeing it for what it is and not what we wish it were. At that point we can take the action that brings us the greatest peace.

Creating True Peace

I saw this book, Creating True Peace, by Thich Nhat Hanh. I haven't been very active blogging here lately but I thought perhaps reading it, I would be reinspired. He has a wonderful quote.

Words and thoughts concerning compassionate action that are not put into practice are like beautiful flowers that are colorful but have no fragrance.

An Inconvenient Truth

I saw Al Gore's film this weekend. I wanted to see it and I was worried that it wouldn't be that interesting, that most points would already have been made. Certainly for those of us who have always been interested in the environmental movement, Gore doesn't make new points. He does, however, make interesting point to rebutt the arguments against doing something, anything, to stop global warming.

An Inconvenient Truth is a worthwhile movie to see. I hope everyone goes and listens.