Peace is Personal

The full text as prepared for the Sunday, September 16, 2012 message:

Events this week have reached deeply into the nation psyche of the United States.

How have you/are you reacting to the unrest and violence against the U.S. this past week?  Do you/did you feel hate and anger against the murderers and attackers of U.S. Embassies abroad?  Did you feel sick to your stomach, anxious, or even scared?

A Course in Miracles asks this question, “In honesty, is it not harder for you to say, “I love” than “I hate?”

I want to share three reactions to the attacks.  Here are two to start with:

“I assume Obama, as he killed Bin Laden, is going to kill someone today… he has to.” (Dennis Miller to Bill O’Reilly, September 12, 2012)

He’s (Obama) going to have to track these people down and kill them. (paraphrase of Wolf Blitzer on CNN, September 12, 2012)

Comments from Ken Wapnick, The Obstacles to Peace. (Pgs 190-191)

“In our world, certainly, it is much easier to hate people and feel justified in this hatred, than it is to truly love someone.  This is not the love that specialness holds dear, but the love that does not see another as separate from ourselves; not seeing another person’s interest as separate, or more or less important than our own.”

Resistance, fighting back, seems to be the overwhelming reaction of the human race in every situation.

Personally, I got anxious after watching/hearing the news for several hours and I had to ask myself, “Are these the feelings I want to entertain?  No, I choose Love, because I believe in the power of love to bring peace to my heart.”

 (SLIDE) Matthew  5:37-48 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect [consistent], therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect [consistent].

There is value in our giving attention to that which we choose to experience. 

We have to bring these spiritual principles into our lives… pay attention to them. “But I get busy…”

(THE VALUE OF ATTENTION from New Life News, Fall/winter 2012) “An experienced forest guide was hired by some people who wanted to explore the woods.  He knew it was first necessary to destroy their false confidence in themselves.  Pointing to a hilltop beyond the woods he directed, “Fix our attention on that hill and climb it in a minimum of time.”

When the puffing hikers reached the hilltop they found their guide waiting for them.  “Do you know why you are so late?” he asked.  You were distracted by the sights along the way.  Had you kept your attention on this hilltop you would not have lost your way.””

Moral: Do not be distracted by superficial attractions, but keep your attention on the spiritual hilltop you want to reach.”

John Wooden was fond of asking: "If you don't have time to do it right, when will you have time to do it over?" (as quoted in the Denver Post, September 13, 2012)

“Where love is, there God is also. Man's nature is not essentially evil. Brute nature has been known to yield to the influence of love.” (Gandhi)

“What you want also wants you. If you seek the celestial, the celestial also seeks you. There are no unanswered requests in the universe.” (Vernon Howard)

I trust in the power of love to bring peace to my heart.  In doing so on an ongoing basis there is more peace in the world. 

When you work to bring peace to your heart on an ongoing basis, there is more peace in the world.

Peace is not won through religious or governmental domination.  There will never be a peaceful government in the world until we are governed by peace in our hearts and minds.  Let’s keep our “eyes” focused on the “Hilltop of Peace.” 

Peace is possible because peace is personal.

We can do this… we can do this.

Gospel of Thomas #76, "The Pearl"

(This are the notes I prepared.  My actual talk was somewhat different)

[Drink from a glass of water] Ah . . . the nectar of life. Just think of it. It is something that is readily available to us. As we drink it, it pours into our being and gives our body vitality. God is even more readily available to us and gives us life. God gives us so much to be grateful for, so much to pour into our being and to remind us of what life is and what it is all about.

Halifax, Nova Scotia – Oak Island is the location of purported treasure buried at the bottom of a shaft.  No one has ever been able to access the bottom of the shaft because it was built with “booby traps” that have prevented anyone from reaching the bottom of the pit.

Real treasure is the awareness of God and that is found within.

          Gospel Of Thomas #76: “Jesus said, "God's Divine Rule is like a merchant who had
a supply of merchandise and then found a pearl.  That merchant was prudent; he sold the merchandise and bought the single pearl for himself. So also with you, seek the treasure that is unfailing, that is enduring, where no moth comes to eat and no worm destroys.”

          Psychologists will say that when we wish to make changes in our life we often focus on what is missing in us, of what we lack and how we're lacking. (we’re lacking thinness; companionship; money; things; jobs; this, or that, or the other thing).

          We will never obtain something, if our main focus is the lack of it.

          It has been said that, “The sure way to do something for your future is to do something with your present.”

The experience of the possession of the “Pearl of Great Price” is inner peace.

Jesus also said, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and God’s righteousness, and all things shall be added unto you.”

My father taught me kindness, and I have adopted that as the lens through which I interface with the world.  I seek the Kingdom of God through kindness.

I believe, if we choose one aspect of the nature of God (i.e. kindness, caring, compassion, joy, happiness, gratitude, etc.) and live that as our one special spiritual gift to give ourselves, then everything else (the rest of the Kingdom) will come along with it, and thus we know inner peace.

          Spiritual awareness means to focus your mind, your heart, and all your thoughts, consciously, on the idea of your oneness of God.

Spiritual expression means to give your life to the fulfillment of the gift (i.e. kindness, etc.) you are giving yourself.

          What is my way to the pearl of great price?  We must ask ourselves this.

          This parable of the Pearl of Great Price advises us to sell all we have in order to buy (to take possession of… to have the experience of) the Pearl of Great Price. 

First, in mind, we have to sell off (divest ourselves of) ALL our worries, our doubts, fears and our anxieties. We must release it all so we can take possession of that that is holy and perfect.

   THE TRAVELER WHO NEVER STOPPED

“A traveler through the countryside was suddenly accosted by another traveler who told him in a frightened voice, "We have wasted our time in this direction. Behind those clouds is a vast mountain which will block our way."

Surprised at the report, the traveler set out to see whether it was true or not. He saw no mountain, but he did meet another stranger who gave him the gloomy report, "It is hopeless to con­tinue your journey. Just beyond that meadow is a canyon so wide that even the animals are stopped by its edge."

Deciding to see for himself, the traveler went on his way. He saw that there was no canyon at all, but he did run into a third stranger in a military uniform, who sternly commanded, "Stop. You are forbidden to go on. This path leads straight into the camp of an army which will punish your attempts to continue."

Not frightened by the threat, the traveler walked on. There were no soldiers to block his way. So because the wise traveler decided to take no one’s word for anything, but to test everything for him­self, he was able to travel on and on and on. (Secrets For Higher Success by Vernon Howard, page 164-165)

          Determination: To find the pearl, we have to continue on our spiritual path and let not anyone or anything deter us. 

Give all your troubles, thoughts, cares, and concerns to God for God to heal.  Do this as often as they appear for you. 

In a worldly sense the Pearl of Great Price would be of enough value to cover the cost of all and every worldly need.

Spiritually speaking the Pearl of Great Price, God’s divine rule at work in our hearts and minds, covers the cost of living in the world (heals and harmonizes our relationship to the challenges in our life).  It brings us inner peace… and inner peace is our most valuable possession.

Remember that giving and receiving are the same. Give your gift to the world and pour the Life of God (take another drink of water) all over your being.

(Click here to return to The Monday Message)