Hi, I’m Judith Ashley, author of The Sacred Women’s Circle series, romantic women’s fiction with light paranormal elements. My stories show you what life could be like if you had a place like The Circle where you are unconditionally accepted, supported and loved. And where, with this support, you make choices to overcome the darkest nights and choose love and light.
Two of the four weekends in June I was teaching. They mark my re-entry into the real world of personal interacting with other people. It was the perfect way for me to move forward. There is a difference between interacting on Zoom or another virtual platform and meeting in person.
What does that have to do with Peace?
One of the core concepts I teach is that everything we
experience that we label as “real” is altered by our five senses, our personal
knowledge and how we want the world around us to be.
A simple example is looking at a chair. We might agree
that the piece of furniture is a chair. However, if I’m blind, I’ll see the chair differently than a sighted
person. If I’m color blind, the chair will also look different from what a
non-color blind person would see. My definition of comfortable will be
different also.
Consider simple things like food, temperature, colors and
the varying views we hold on what’s good, right, comfortable, etc. and then
contrast that with the more abstract concept of peace.
Another piece of the curriculum is “Systems of Belief”.
And once we ascribe to a particular system of belief, it is a powerful
influence in our lives. Consider the religious or political beliefs that abound
in the world around us. Unless we also have a belief that my view/system of
belief is unique to me and is Not something anyone else Must agree with, we are
automatically veering into dangerous territory.
The answer to World Peace is simple in concept and
exceptionally complex in implementation because of our systems of belief.
The answer is: Choose
peace! If everyone in the world chose peace starting at midnight tonight,
there would be no war. The powers that be would sit down and discuss what they
want and work to gain agreement with the other powers that be who would be
affected. The word compromise would
be valued again. Discussion would be polite, civil and everyone at the table,
be it the dining room or coffee table in our homes, a conference table at work,
or the negotiating table at the United Nations or another international
meeting, would be listened to in an effort to understand as well as treated
with respect and dignity.
If you are not yet on my mailing list, you can
sign up for Choices here. I’ve created a
new free offering that includes the novella Sarah’s
Ankh along with the first chapter of Lily:
The Dragon and The Great Horned Owl. I hope you enjoy them.
Look for my next non-fiction Yes, You
Can Create The Life You Love this summer. All of my books are available at
your favorite e-book vendor. Be sure to ask your local library if
you’d prefer to read my books through that resource.
Follow Judith on
Twitter: JudithAshley19
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Judith’s Windtree Press author page.
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© 2021 Judith Ashley
4 comments:
Such an important post, Judith. This statement really brings the problem of peace to the forefront. "The answer to World Peace is simple in concept and exceptionally complex in implementation because of our systems of belief."
It is natural to gravitate to those who think and see the world as I do. It is the easiest thing to do because it reinforces my beliefs. However, because not everyone does it means my contribution to peace in my relationships and in the world is to seek out those who do not think and see the world as I do. And then to listen to what they do think and why--not try to convert them to my way but actually listen and try to understand.
It is true that we cannot control what other people do, but I believe strongly that we can be an example of what we want to see in the world and if more and more people choose peace and live that example, it will grow.
One of my favorite hymns from church has always begun: Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me. It is simple, an easy melody and one I've heard sung in every church I've attended throughout my life. Written in 1955 (when I was only a year old) it came about during a retreat of young people of diverse beliefs.
Sy Miller, the writer of the music and his wife, Jill, the lyricist, tell it this way: “One summer evening in 1955, a group of 180 teenagers of all races and religions, meeting at a workshop high in the California mountains locked arms, formed a circle and sang a song of peace. They felt that singing the song, with its simple basic sentiment – ‘Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me’ – helped to create a climate for world peace and understanding.”
When the retreat was over, the kids took the song home with them, and it quickly spread throughout all 50 states, and then internationally.
That was a choice each of those 180 young participants made to attend the retreat to seek world peace. It is a choice the team of Cy and Jill Miller made in writing the song and sharing it. And not only was it adopted in many churches and can be seen in hymnals, it is still being song today by all kinds of choirs and covered by many celebrity and new musicians.
May we all make such good choices and seek peace.
What a beautiful post, Judith! I loved Maggie's comment linking to the hymn, too. I was singing that hymn in the car the other day. It reminds us that we are not helpless. We can do good in our own daily lives.
Maggie, "Let there be Peace on Earth and Let It Begin With Me" is one of my favorites. I had no idea what the history of it was so thank you for sharing it. I can remember singing it in a group of 100 people - and though I may hum it to myself, that experience with the larger group was sublime.
Sarah, thanks for commenting. I think what puts some people off with seeing options and opportunities for creating that life they want is the taking of responsibility for what is not going right in their lives. We can do good in our own lives and we can change anything that isn't going in the direction we want if we are willing to be honest with ourselves.
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