When my brother John died, more than four months ago now, I had every intention of blogging here often - at least once a week. Little did I realize how draining this time of grief was going to be for me!
I wanted to carry on his mission - Love and Peace to the Whole World: Think It and Make It Happen - at least for a year or so. John was so passionate about this endeavor. I did not want it to die as he did. Even though I have not been blogging, his legacy continues in ways unknown to me. My only task is to walk within the pain of my grief and believe that I will find joy again.
Recently I came across two quotes that have helped me:
Nothing in life really stays. It's beautiful that they go. They have to go in order for the next thing to come. You can always add beauty to a thing by accepting that it is temporary. (Paul McCartney)
But then something "like scales fall" from your eyes and you are at peace even in the darkness as well as in the light, knowing the Light is always there even if not visible to you. Then the time comes; you have reached your purpose. You die and are opened up to let yourself be poured forth of all that you have been filled with . . .One ray, one special ray at a particular moment hits you and makes you say "Yes" and you burst with Love, for Love, in Love. (Author Unknown)
Love and peace to all who read this! And to the Whole World!!
This morning while at prayer I read a statement in Mark Nepo's The Book of Awakening that helped me make sense of what happened yesterday:
At times so many memories trample my heart that it becomes impossible to know just what I am feeling and why . . .
Two years ago, June 1, 2010, was a significant day in my brother John's "Love and Peace" endeavor. We had sent out emails to the centers and individuals on his website and to many other friends inviting them to remember at noon on this day (and on the first day of every month) the words: Love and Peace to the Whole World. Think It and Make It Happen. John was excited and deeply committed to this new unfolding of his endeavor. So much so that around 10:00AM he took a folding chair and a bottle of water and went out into the orchard to begin his own remembering of those words. He stayed out there for four hours or so. The light and joy on his face when he came back to the house was remarkable!
Yesterday, I went out to the same spot - near Renee's well - sat under a tree and remember both the words and the hope in John' s heart that all living beings would become channels of love and peace. Memories flooded into my heart and tears flowed out of my eyes.
Then in the early evening I decided to let the three little chicks out of the hutch near the porch. They were having a great time - exploring a little further and then running back to the hutch. I enjoyed their antics and noticed how much stronger and faster they were becoming. It was relaxing and fun - for awhile. Then I decided, it was time for them to go back inside. No way . . . they were not ready! I chased them for a bit - too fast for me - so I took the only option available: to sit down and wait for them to go back into the hutch on their own. They did just that about five minutes later.
Why was I able to wait for the chicks to return to the hutch on their own? Why is it so difficult for me to let my grief be until it lifts and my life feels whole again?
This morning we learned that we lost John. Too much grief to write any more right now.
People4motherearth.net family: earhwalker, earthlover and ecozoic handyman wish all people in the world Love and Peace. may 2012 bring the changes for earth and human justice that we seek.
_
A year ago - June 1, 2010 - an endeavor was initiated by my brother John. It has continued on the first day of each month throughout this past year, as people all over the world have been saying a few simple words at noon wherever they are:
Love and Peace to the Whole World.
Now we begin another year - June 1, 2011
If you are part of this endeavor already - Thank you. I am delighted by the emails and messages that I receive reminding me that another month is ready to begin with "love and peace" going out to the whole world from the hearts of many. John and others, especially his friend in Mexico, Jeffrey Peters, continue to make connections and spread the news. The bumper sticks are now also available in Spanish. They are working on getting these words put on billboards around the country: Love and Peace to the Whole World. Think It and Make It Happen.
If this is your first time hearing about this endeavor check the entries below for its start and the ongoing story.
We know well that every journey begins with the first small step. How good to be involved in this journey with you.
_March 1, 2011 ~ once again at noon ~ wherever you are ~ Love and Peace to the Whole World ~ Think it and Make it Happen!
Thank you so much for your continued involvement in this endeavor that began in June 2009! And if you are just beginning on this journey, thank you too! It is delightful to hear so many people speak of how these few simple words give them a sense of peace in difficult times. For those who remind me to say them myself I am grateful. It is good to be doing this together.
In November 2010 I shared with you the blessing of John's connection with Jeffrey Peters, who included John's story and the bumper stickers in a talk that he gave in Kazakhstan. Well, their partnership continues to bear fruit. On January 19, 2011 Jeffrey Peters spoke before 20 International Teachers and Educators in Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico. The name of their organization is: ETA,
Cuernavaca Chapter of ALPHA DELTA KAPPA
(www.alphadeltakappa.org ).
The result of this presentation was that one of the attendees requested bumper stickers in Spanish saying:
Amor y Paz Para Todo El Mundo
The Spanish bumper stickers have been produced by John and sent to Jeffrey in Mexico for distribution. Amazing how the word is spreading!
So now there are bumper stickers in Spanish and also some new ones in English (green and white). If you would like a few (or more), contact John directly at people4motherearth@hot mail.com. As you have noticed when you go to John's website: www.people4motherearth.net you can also enter into three other sites: Dancing TreePeople, Blogging for Sanity, and LakeFuture. All of them are informative / interesting. Enjoy
Be sure to check out the LakeFuture one. You may be interested in participating in the Permaculture Design Certificate Course that is being offered in Lake County soon or you may want to provide financial support for the people who want to attend but need at least a partial scholarship.
Blessings of love and peace be yours.
_I am so grateful for the way in which the desire placed in my heart has been placed in the hearts of so many others. Our endeavor to spread "Love and Peace to the Whole World" by saying the words and living it out in our actions continues and grows day by day.
It is amazing how connections happen! The story below illustrates this point and explains how the "Love and Peace to the Whole World" bumper stickers made their way to Kazakhstan in October 2010. Here is what was shared by my new found friend, Jeffrey Peters, in a talk he gave at The World Forum on Spiritual Culture in Kazakhstan."I have a story to tell you. So please listen carefully because you might be the person I am looking for to Co-Create this New World Community of Love and Peace. My story begins in the spiritual capitol of Mexico – the valley of Tepoztlan, Morelos.On the morning of April 21, 2001, I was doing my morning meditation when two morning doves swooped down over my head and sat down in front of me on a stone wall, and began singing their Love Song – “Love You, Me Too – Love You, Me Too”. I interpreted that event as a sign that god was sending me the holy spirit of God’s Love.I believe that God has a plan for each one of us, and from that moment on I became a new ambassador of God’s Love.The story continues on August 15, 2009 when I woke up with a neon colored message from God which said: Create with me a New World Community of Love and Peace. So I began writing down the basics of this concept in the form of a one page press release. (inserted below). . . We return now to our story. In August of 2010, I saw a bumper sticker on a parked car that said: “Love and Peace to the Whole World”. (JBP shows the bumper sticker.) So I said to myself, this is great! I am not alone. Someone else has the same idea and made a bumper sticker. I found the owner of the car, and asked her, “who did the bumper sticker?” and she said John McCarthy from Boston. You can reach him via the website on his bumper sticker: www.people4motherearth.org. So I called John, and we became soul brothers, and his website became the website for A New World Community of Love and Peace.So now, you- my audience at the World Forum on Spiritual Culture – become a part of this story. Would you like to Co-Create a New World Community of Love and Peace? Do you, or anybody you know, have the financial resources to help this dream become a reality? With so much hatred and war in this world, would you prefer Love and Peace? You, the people, can make this happen. Greet each other now with Love and Peace, and pass it on. Do it now “Love and Peace”, and pass it on!
Press Release:
A New World Community
Who, What, Where, and Why
What? What do I mean by “A New World Community?” I mean a New World Community of Love and Peace for everyone, everywhere. We want the words Love and Peace; on your lips as you greet one another. We want “Love and Peace” on the top of your mind, and in the bottom of your heart.
Where? In the hearts and minds of all people, worldwide.
In Tepoztlan, the spiritual capitol of Mexico.
Why? Why do suicide bombers kill themselves in order to kill others? There are many possibilities. Probably the most basic reason is that they feel their own life is not worth living, and they want the foreign invaders to leave their home country. Perhaps they do not have a job and their family needs money, and their “mentors” promise money for their family. And perhaps at their core, they do not love themselves nor have they received unconditional love from anyone, and their leaders promise them love in the “hereafter”.
A beautiful song reminds us - “What the world needs now is love, sweet love, it’s the only thing that there’s just too little of”. “What the world needs now is love, sweet love, no, not just for some but for everyone”. Love for suicide bombers before, that’s right, before they destroy themselves and us. If potential suicide bombers received genuine love here on earth, they might not kill themselves to receive possible love in the “hereafter.” There can be no peace without love. Love first, then peace.
Invitation: I have an Invitation for you – as one of God’s Ambassadors of Love, I invite you to co-create with me “A New World Community of Love and Peace”- will you step forward and help me? If you want to participate, please see me at the end of my Remarks. Or contact me with your feedback, comments, and suggestions for this work in progress – my email address is: jeffreybpeters@aol.com.
Music: What might be the music of a New World Community of Love and Peace? The music could be: Dvo_ák’s “New World Symphony,” “All You Need is Love,” by the Beatles, Beethoven’s “Joy Theme,” John Lennon’s “Imagine,” Michael Jackson’s “We Are The World,” and “Dona Nobis Pacem.”
Remarks prepared by Jeffrey B. Peters for: The World Forum on Spiritual Culture
(Jeffrey B. Peters, Chief Executive Officer of The US-Mexican Development Corporation and Co-Founder of We The People. He was a Candidate for President of the United States of America in the year 2000, and most importantly, he is the Founder of A New World Community of Love and Peace.)
_It has been an exciting summer for some significant reasons:
1) Deciding to invite people to focus their thoughts on "Love and Peace to Whole World" at noon on the 1st of every month has given the endeavor new momentum. What began on June 1st has continued on July 1st,on August 1st and in a few days: September 1st. Most people are saying it more than once when they pause at noon, many are saying it with others, some are saying it daily and often. Stuck in a traffic jam, waiting in a doctor's office, watching your children play in the back yard - LOVE AND PEACE TO THE WHOLE WORLD! As we think it, we are making it happen.
2) My trip across country and back again was very enjoyable. I spent time helping out at a number of Earth Centers. This included spending almost a month at Dancing TreePeople in Upper Lake, CA where my sister, Loretta, and her partner, Denise, live. I had the opportunity to see and/or visit with friends in a number of states. I also met new people who are now friends that I will see again next year!
3) As I went through the stack of mail that awaited me when I got home from my travels, I was delighted to see a "White House" return label. Though the letter inside was a standard response, I was happy to know that my letter about the "Love and Peace" endeavor had been received at President Barack Obama's office. The response was dated May 20, 2010:
Dear Friend:
Thank you for your kind note and enclosure. Your thoughtful words join a chorus of millions of Americans who are eager to lead our Nation towards a brighter tomorrow.
Each day, I am inspired by the encouraging messages of hope and determination I have received from people across the country. With the magnitude of challenges we face, we will only overcome them if our imagination is joined to common purpose.
The future we leave to our children and grandchildren will be determine by our willingness to shoulder each other's burdens, take great risks,and move forward as one people and one Nation. With your help, we build on what we have already achieved and lay a new foundation for real and lasting progress.
Signed: Barack Obama
Those words are meant for all of us!
_Thank you for your participation in the June 1st Love and Peace to the Whole World endeavor. John and I were delighted to hear from so many who said "yes" "will do" "what a great idea" to the invitation.
We also appreciated the stories connected with the day that came our way:
1) three children opening the front door of their home and yelling on the count of 3... "Love and peace to the Whole World"
2) a child who chose to decorate an 11 x 14 in. orange sign with the words on it
3) a religious congregation who enlarged the bumper stick, hung it in their Motherhouse dining room, and then all the Sisters stopped to say it together at noon
4) a grandmother and her four grandchildren who stood outside together, held hands and had a moment of sun as they prayed
and many more .
It was good to be united with so many in this way. And so, the invitation goes out again, let's do it every month on the 1st day of the month at noon wherever we are!
So this Thursday, July 1st, at Noon - Love and Peace to the Whole World. Thank you for joining in, for spreading the word, and for continuing this practice as each month rolls by - for the good of all!
|
RSS Feed