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.