March 31, 2013

P E A C E


Today is Easter Sunday, a day celebrated by millions of people across the globe. How one man could have such an influence on our planet is indeed a miracle. Meanwhile this week and last, millions of Jews celebrate Passover, an equally important holiday world-wide.  At the same time our planet is in turmoil. Why? Because we have forgotten...

If I could take away anything from this celebratory time it would be this wish for our planet: that we all remember four little lines by Louis I. Newman: 


I sought to hear the voice of God,

and climbed the topmost steeple.

But God declared: "Go down again,

I dwell among the people."


Have we not forgotten? As John Muir reminds us: “When one tugs at a single thing in nature, he finds it attached to the rest of the world.” Whether it be Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, Islam, Hinduism, or any of the many other religions worldwide, what does it matter what we call the Maker of our Universe? Differences are wonderful things and make life deliciously interesting!

"All who have actually attained any real religious experience never wrangle over the form in which the different religions are expressed. They know that the soul of all religions is the same and so they have no quarrel with anybody just because he or she does not speak in the same tongue."  Swami Vivekananda (1863-1902)

I leave you with one final thought:

 "Peace is not the absence of war (or discord): it is a virtue; a state of mind; a disposition for benevolence and justice." Benedict De Spinoza (1632-1677)

P E A C E - May we all live by it and within.