This Week’s Quotation:
What can you do to promote world peace? Go home and love your family.
~ Mother Teresa
Where Peace Begins
Jerry Kvasnicka, Be Peace!
There are so many human efforts to bring peace to the world: disarmament conferences, peace vigils, demonstrations for peace, organizations devoted to peace, and even war as a means of supposedly bringing peace. But how simple, how personal, and how immediate Mother Teresa describes the way of peace. Just start by loving your own family and those in your home.
This is where peace begins: in my heart, in your heart, in the heart of the home. I’m reminded of the story of an eight-year-old boy who had just watched a television newscast. He wondered why there was so much war in the world and why wars started. Then he heard his parents arguing vehemently in the other room, and he had his answer.
Mother Teresa’s wisdom is also evident in another statement: It is much easier to conquer a country than to conquer ourselves. A leader of a country may try to subdue another country simply to compensate for the lack of peace within himself. The warlike tendencies within the psyche of a single individual are projected onto the world stage, causing so much suffering.
Peace is a byproduct of Love. Not just love for our human selves with all of their competing wants and desires. Higher Love, transcendent Love, self-Love, Love for interests and wellbeing of the Whole, not just a part, be it a human personality or a country. And the starting point is the home of my own being and the family of angelic beings surrounding 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. Love peace, be peace, and bring peace wherever you go. So good to hear of Mother Theresa’s simple answer. A friend of ours once came up with this motto for those who visited his community. “please leave the peace of yourself behind.” Many thanks Jerry. WITH YOU. Tom C.
My grandmother, Aggie, used to sing a song to my mother when she was young, and then to me when I was young, and then she sang it to my children.
“Love makes a Home,
“Love makes a Home,
“For truly a Home is there
“Where Love reigns supreme.”
Always loved this at church – except we sang line #5 – With God as Creator
Let there be peace on earth
And let it begin with me.
Let there be peace on earth
The peace that was meant to be.
With God as our Father
Brothers all are we.
Let me walk with my brother
In perfect harmony.
Let peace begin with me,
Let this be the moment now.
With ev’ry step I take
Let this be my solemn vow;
To take each moment and live
Each moment in peace eternally.
Let there be peace on earth
And let it begin with me.