This Week's Quotation:
“Peace is present right here and now, in ourselves and in everything we do and see.”
~Thích Nhất Hạnh, Thien Buddhist Monk
Natural Love, Natural Peace
Rev. Berry Behr, Interfaith Minister
The International Day of Peace (IDP) was established in 1981 by the United Nations General Assembly and has been observed annually since 1982. Since then, humanity has been invited each year to pause and remember that beneath the noise of politics, commerce, and conflict lies a deeper design. We might call it natural law, Divine Design, or simply the heartbeat of Love.
September 21, 2025 marked the 44th observance of the International Day of Peace. In Cape Town, Baha’i, Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim, and Christian representatives came together to pray for peace and invite collaborative support of Ladles of Love, a local community kitchen. At Sunrise Ranch near Loveland, Colorado, 150 students and community members gathered to learn about the Emissaries of Divine Light. Religions for Peace South Africa hosted an online prayer session. In a fractured world, are we all praying for the same vision of peace?
To live in peace is not to avoid struggle or difference, but to embody a priesthood of wholeness—sacred masculine and sacred feminine in true accord. It means living in deep reverence for creation, awe at the mystery of life, recognizing that love of the Creator is inseparable from love of all creation. It asks us to stay open-hearted, to keep saying yes to the unfolding more. It is the truth that makes the invisible visible—the essence of life brought down into the physical through our choices, our service, our togetherness. Peace is not passive. It is built through collaboration, many hands each with a unique fingerprint, aligned in collective dedication to a purpose beyond our individual beliefs, faiths, and sacred expressions.
Sometimes we dream of big futures and shining achievements. Yet often, love calls us simply to the work before us: one task, one relationship, one moment of forgiveness or generosity. Perhaps real love is found not in chasing the dream, but in releasing it. In that letting go, we discover joy—fleeting sometimes, yet also a signpost to a deeper purpose. Joy is love bursting forth, reminding us that life believes in us, that we are here with intention, with meaning, with service to offer.
Peace comes when we live this truth: that my service is for you and yours for me, and ours together for the whole. It is not exclusion but collaboration. It is purity of intention. We are called to full-hearted agreement to walk the path of Love, where love becomes peace and peace becomes our shared future. Will you walk it with me?
About Open Windows
We, the authors of this blog, dedicate it to the transparent exploration of the world's sacred scripture and enlightened spiritual thought. We believe that the original inspiration of all faiths comes from a common source, named and revered in a myriad of ways. With that understanding, the innumerable symbols, beliefs, and practices of faith cease to divide. They become open windows to a common reality that inspires and unifies us. We find deeper insight and nourishment in our own faith and from the expression of faith from others.
We hope these weekly quotations and meditations speak to your heart and soul.
Yes, Berry, I would walk the path of Love with you today. You beautifully describe what that means with these words: Often, love calls us simply to the work before us: one task, one relationship, one moment of forgiveness or generosity. This is how I would “dance” through this day, just moving gracefully to music of creation.
I absolutely agree with Jerry. Let peace begin with me because it is already who I am. Thank you so much Rev. Berry. I love your expression and that of all who “let peace begin with me.” Aloha from Oahu, Tom C.
Thank you, Berry, for your wise words. I walk with you, whole-heartedly, in love, intention, commitment and understanding in bringing wholesome and creative outworking of peace through us into the world. It begins through each of us, momentarily in all of our creative enlightened thinking, feeling and actions. We do this, all nations, all diverse people on earth in creating oneness.
A vital truth Rev, Berry – Peace comes when we live this truth: that my service is for you and yours for me, and ours together for the whole. It is not exclusion but collaboration. It is purity of intention. We are called to full-hearted agreement to walk the path of Love, where love becomes peace and peace becomes our shared future. Will you walk it with me?
And so the answer must sure be Yes!!!!! Thank you for the invitation!!
Wow Berry, so beautifully stated in your words is an open invitation for all to walk that path of love. What a magnificent world to be created through this act of loving one another. Thank you