Ripples of Peace: No. 109, 110 and 111

Submitted by Robert Wertz
District 5495 Peacebuilder Chair

Dear Friends of Peace,
 
As believers in world Peace, we are prepared to practice the:
109th Ripple of Peace: Develop the courage to discover how you reflect and contribute to discord in the world.
 
It can be easy to sit in judgement about the violent actions of others, especially when they seem so far removed from how we see ourselves. On the other hand, if we have the courage to consider our own connection, however small, to a given situation, we may find that we are harboring some of the same thoughts or feelings that led others to act.
 
Understanding that each person, to varying degrees, both reflects and contributes to the state of the world may be difficult to accept. If true, however, this reflexive interconnectivity provides us with the perfect means to create Peace on earth. In essence, we can help heal the world by healing ourselves.
 
Whenever you are tempted to condemn an act of violence or hatred, ask yourself these questions:
 
In what ways have I hurt somebody recently?
 
How often do I fail to listen to someone I care about?
 
What thoughts of words of anger, fear, hatred, or despair have I recently entertained or expressed?
 
Is there any emotion within me that counteracts Peace and am I willing to transform it into something constructive?
 

From Ripples of Peace: 111 Ways You Can Help Create Peace in the World, by Rae Thompson

 

May you know and be Peace.

 

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Dear Friends of Peace,

Now that we have developed the courage to discover how you reflect and contribute to discord in the world, we are prepared to practice the:

110th Ripple of Peace: Imagine world Peace

Untold millions of young people around the globe have no personal experience of Peace. Having grown up in war-torn countries, these children and young adults have no conceptual framework from which to build images of Peace. It is essential, therefore, for those of us who can do so to generate and hold within our hearts the sights, sounds, and sensations of Peace.

The imagination is a powerful vehicle for Peace. It is especially effective in a group setting. The shared intention and focus of a group imagination session, raises the energy and magnifies the probability of Peace.

In a small or large group, guide participants to imagine Peace in a predetermined situation. First, focus on the identified conflict. Second, go forward in time and imagine that Peace exists in the situation, making it real by imagining what you see, hear, smell and feel.  Third, go even further forward in time and notice how life is different now that Peace has prevailed for years. Next, feel grateful for the Peace that you are experiencing. Finally, come back to your imagined outcome. Believe that what you have imagined is true and carry the feelings of Peace with you, while allowing for the actual results to be even better than you imagined.

Consider organizing youth groups to imagine world Peace.

From Ripples of Peace: 111 Ways You Can Help Create Peace in the World, by Rae Thompson 

May you know and be Peace. 

Robert

Dear Friends of Peace,

Now that we have imagined the possibility of world Peace, we are prepared to take action by practicing the:

111th Ripple of Peace: Be an instrument of Peace

You are the most potent and creative instrument of Peace. Like ripples in a pond, your inner Peace and your Peaceful actions extend farther and farther outward until they have helped transform people and situations beyond your knowing, thus creating new ripples upon ripples of Peace.

State your intention each morning to be an instrument of Peace, whether you will be alone, with family and friends, at work, or with others in your community. Reaffirm your commitment to Peace as often as necessary throughout the day and do what you know helps you sustain your inner Peace.

From Ripples of Peace: 111 Ways You Can Help Create Peace in the World, by Rae Thompson

 This now concludes the Ripples of Peace. It has been my privilege to share the wisdom contained in these ripples
 

May you know and be Peace.

 

Robert