the practice of peace

[Julie Smith]

For me, the practice of peace is an internal affair, a dialogue with
myself.  The core question is whether I am thinking, speaking and acting
from a place of love or a place of fear.  Love is the practice of peace.
Fear in its many forms, including anger, attack, worry, resistance, and
conflict, is not a practice of peace.  Although I still encounter fear
in myself and others, my inner dialogue centers on practicing love.
This requires a belief in the divinity of everyone and everything and a
willingness to separate what is eternally and wholly true
(love/peace/joy/wholeness/holiness/oneness) from what is false.

My practice is a moment to moment kind of practice.  Though I often
forget to practice, every moment is an opportunity to practice.  It
doesn't matter if I'm doing what I call mediation or meditation or
parenting or writing or facilitating or OST or teaching or TV-watching
or driving or grocery shopping.  Each of the moments I'm in is an
opportunity to practice peace.

In every moment, I have the opportunity to open my awareness to myself
and the world around me.  In every moment, I have the opportunity to see
the divinity in every person and every thing in my circle of awareness.
In every moment, I can listen to my inner knowing and respond from the
infinite collective well of wisdom.  In every moment, I can make the
choice to radiate love.  When I remember to do these things, I am
engaging in the practice of peace.

Julie

*
*
==========================================================
OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
------------------------------
To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options,
view the archives of oslist at listserv.boisestate.edu,
Visit:

http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html