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.  Now that this venue is available, I
 will be adding articles at least  once a month 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.