On the 30th anniversary of the International Day of Peace perhaps it’s time we stopped looking to our leaders for peace, when really, peace is up to us.
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“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful
We’ve been talking, and singing, and shouting, and writing about peace for a long, long time. We link arms, and we point fingers. We expound on theories, and we protest against authority.
And all too often we say, “It’s hopeless, I cannot change the world.”
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Small drops of water leave deep channels over time. And when they combine into a trickle, or a stream, or a river, they can carve out canyons.
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And yet, we are ALL capable of changing the world. In fact, we cannot possibly leave the world the same as it was when we entered it. Our every choice — of thought, deed, word, and emotion — leaves an indelible mark on this place that we call “home” during our human lifetime.
We all have talents and platforms that give us the power to change the world. Jane Hanson chose to begin a global initiative to get people around the world singing for peace. Because of her commitment, six groups, including the London Philharmonic Choir, sang outside the BBC building in central London today. (Video below)
Many organizations devoted the day to prayer and meditation, or to outreach and community efforts.
But you don’t need a designated day, or a global platform to change the world.
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It is one area where we all have equal opportunity, because we can all be thoughtful and committed.
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When you leave a comment for me on this article, you will have left a little ripple in the fabric of the world. When you allow it to make you feel hopeful, or angry, or determined, or despairing, that emotion too will become part of the collective force that directs the future of the world.
Small drops of water leave deep channels over time. And when they combine into a trickle, or a stream, or a river, they can carve out canyons.
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Every single one of us has the opportunity to join with the other individuals who are committed to our particular desired change, therefore becoming part of one of those thoughtful and committed citizens. It is one area where we all have equal opportunity, because we can all be thoughtful and committed.
The reason, I think, that Margaret Meade’s quote resonates with me so deeply is not so much the truth of it, but the requirement of it.
It asks a lot of a person to remain thoughtful and committed in the face of hate and derision or worse, apathy. It asks a lot of a group of people to stay focused on one particular desired change when there is so much we would all like to affect.
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The reason, I think, that Margaret Meade’s quote resonates with me so deeply is not so much the truth of it, but the requirement of it.
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But that is what we are asked to do if we wish to increase our impact in the world. We must stay thoughtful, and we must stay committed. If we want peace, we must think about peace, we must view the world and everything in it from a standpoint of seeking peace, we must be committed to peace in our thoughts, deeds, words, and emotions.
Which is a lot to ask of a person, let alone of a group of persons.
When I wrote What Good Can One Do, about the Brahma Kumari’s One Initiative, I thought a lot about what it means to commit to peace. And the more I thought about it, the more I recognized many of my thoughts, deeds, words, and emotions that were not peaceful.
I thought about the topics I’ve been writing on, and of the many articles I edit for other contributors. We address issues of violence and rape, social injustice and prejudice, police brutality, and child abuse. These are not topics that lend themselves to peaceful thoughts. And yet, if I want to be a change agent for peace that is where I must begin. By looking at all of those stories through the lens of seeking peace.
It’s hard to hold peace in your heart and your thoughts when you are emotionally bombarded. It’s hard to be committed to speaking and writing about these issues from a place of peace, because it frightens people and you’re going to get trolled, a lot.
But never doubt that it is worth it either. Or that you won’t be one of those people who belongs to a group of thoughtful, committed world changers that Margaret Meade was talking about.
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Photo: Flickr/Kate Ter Haar