Some Thoughts on...  Peace     


                                                                                                                           
I have been moved for sometime now to write an article about the state of America these days.
 I have indeed many half written attempts.  Some from a political perspective, some from a
metaphysical perspective, some from a social perspective.  

Then within the past week, several things have finally given me the perspective I seek.  I am
ashamed to say it wasn't obvious immediately.  It is a spiritual perspective.  There isn't a
single thing wrong with our society or the global society as a whole that can't be remedied by
initiating our efforts with the simple spiritual principle of peace.

The process of peace within ourselves is where it all begins.  By the way, if this process were
easy everyone would already be doing it.  It takes great courage to love your way out of your
problems.  And I am not just talking about putting the guns away (though of course I am in
favor of that).  I am talking about the greater threat - our minds.

Many who are reading this are probably about to put it down figuring this is just another "love
and light", Pollyanna piece of new age fluff.  Well it is if you just give it lip service.  Our most
precious commodity in modern times isn't money, or oil, or even food.  It's time.  It takes time
to be peaceful in our thoughts, words and actions.  Sometimes it takes a lot of it.  Sometimes it
just takes that extra minute.  

As I was reading in todays news about the debate on torture (is this really the state of
humanity that we must actually debate whether torture is an acceptable and effective
weapon?),  I was thinking about a radio program I heard coming into work on Saturday.  It was
a soldiers stories of war.  This man was a Wisconsin farm boy when he went to war.  His stories
were very moving, and one in particular was about how he had shown mercy to an enemy
soldier by throwing him over his shoulder and carrying him through two miles of rough terrain
instead of shooting him because as he stood there looking at the mans bloody wounded feet, he
knew it would be easier to kill him than to be responsible for him as a prisoner of war.  What
made him choose the difficult path was his grandfathers words to him before he left for war.  
His grandfather told him that God loved the enemy soldiers just as he loved him, and for him to
be merciful.  The tears that were in my eyes as I was listening fell freely when he described the
man - who was about 5 feet tall as opposed to his 6 foot plus - kissing his neck in gratitude as
he hung over the soldiers shoulder.  He said that it was many years before he could tell that to
anyone because it embarrassed him.

He spoke of another time when he captured an enemy soldier, and rather than torture him for
badly needed information, he tried communicating with him as one man to another.  He took
his bayonet and drew Wisconsin in the dirt and he described where he came from.  Then he
handed the man the bayonet (which drew gasps from his fellow soldiers) and the man drew
North and South Korea, and pointed to his home in the north.  As it turned out he was a high
ranking officer in the North Korean army.  Due to his humane treatment, they were able to get
important information from him which helped save American lives.

In a much more current story of violence, Lauren Hesebeck, one of the survivors of the
Wisconsin hunting attack last year by Chai Vang, went on Channel 5 news to do a segment in
an effort to urge peace in the woods as a new hunting season begins.  And yes I do see some
irony in a message for peace when they are going out to shoot animals, but life has many
layers.  What struck me the most about the story was that it was relayed that he had  actually
had a clear shot of Chai Vang on the day of the murders, as he was laying on the ground next to
his dead and injured friends having already been shot by Chai Vang himself, and he said he still
couldn't justify in his own mind shooting a man in the back.

I know it probably seems odd to support the message of peace with stories of war and
shootings.  My point is this.  Sometimes I think it is easier to find peace in larger than daily life
situations.  But trust me when I tell you that no war was ever begun by peaceful thoughts.  
War in all it's forms, whether the institution, the war on our streets, class wars, racial wars,
wars between different religions, they don't start or get fed by peaceful thoughts, kind words,
or compassionate deeds.

Please remember this as we approach a season of holidays that should represent peaceful
times.  Remember it when someone cuts you off on the freeway as you try to hurry home to
wrap your gifts.  Remember it when you have someone in front of you in line at the
supermarket with 25 items in the express lane and you just have to get home with the ginger
ale for your holiday party.  Remember it as you sit in worship running through the list of things
in your head that you have to do yet to meet your holiday obligations, instead of listening to the
sermon.  

Because I like to consider myself a grounded and practical psychic, let me tell you that the
quickest way to help yourself to peaceful solutions is free, easy, and always available.  
Breathe. When your stress level is high, when your patience is lost, before you react to life in
a less than desirable way, take a moment to take a few slow deep breaths (from your belly,
not your chest).  You'll be amazed at how time seems to slow down and solutions come to mind
that weren't there a minute before.  

Here's hoping you have a peaceful holiday season -



Blessings,

Tammy  

* This article was written December 2005

* Please note that this particular article was written some time ago.   I  will be adding articles
regularly to this site.  Some will be topical, and some will be on timeless subjects.  My
primary goal will be to generate thoughtfulness and perhaps thoughtful discussions.  My
personal goal is to be an ever evolving human being, and as such I expect that my views will
always be  open to expansion and when necessary, change .   These articles are simply an
expression of my opinions at the time that they are written.  No more, and no less.  I hope
you will enjoy reading them.