Dear Power of Our Way Peace Experiment Community,
Although the recent decision to begin the experiment was certainly sparked by the emergence of conflict in Lebanon and Israel, the Power of Our Way Community is focused on joining in prayer, consciousness, intention, and action for the entire world.
Our intention is to support all people across every culture, religion and nationality. It is time for us to begin looking at ourselves as members of a UNITED community of humans and grow in personal accountability for contributing to the larger vision of peace and unity on the planet.
I realize this is no small task, no small endeavor, and one that feels unrealistic to many, especially those living day to day amongst hundreds of years of violence. The answers to global peace building and growing our respect for one another, healing years of conflict and fighting are not simple ones. Yet, when asked where to begin, building a peaceful world always begins with ourselves.
This is where each of us can contribute.
One person at a time, one family at a time, one community, one village, one city, one state, one country, one world - that is the progression that always begins first with our own consciousness, our own faith, our own beliefs and behaviors, each of us being and doing our part in building a stronger and more viable collective consciousness that ultimately is defined by respect for all human life.
Do we choose where we are born; our heritage, nationalities and our religious upbringing? Do we choose the color of our skin, the language we learn in our early development, the sects we are brought up in, or the history that is present within our various cultures before we ever existed?
There are many schools of thought on this subject, yet one thing, no matter one’s belief, is that each and every one of us possesses FREE WILL.
We choose to honor or dishonor, to "make" others right or wrong simply because of the color of their skin, the nation within which they are born, the language one speaks, the religion one practices, and even the history that exists between cultures and religions.
How we perceive and act is and always will be a CHOICE. It is for that reason, and sometimes, that reason alone, that we can continue to hope for a better future.
Might it take the commitment and guidance of many future generations to eradicate hatred, prejudice, and violence, in particular when such violent histories are such an influence in how we raise our children?
Certainly...yet we can look at our history and see where great strides have been made. Not always in ways that we look back and reflect on with pride, yet, we can look back over time and see that as a human culture, in spite of our current states of conflict, we have made great strides.
We continue to EVOLVE. Through each of us and our own individual paths, we do evolve. That is FACT. Knowledge is powerful. We can begin building the collective wisdom and knowledge of ourselves and our children. Small steps do lead to progress and change.
Could it be that Passivity and Complacency are as much enemies to Peace Building efforts as are deliberate campaigns to destroy a particular culture or religious groups?
Hatred and prejudice spread like a virus. We pass them on through our consciousness, our beliefs, our conversations, and our actions.
Hatred and prejudice exist not because of religion but because of people who interpret teachings as edict to act against others. In the beginning, as children, we learn what we are taught. It is only later that we realize we can adopt other ways of thinking.
Just as hatred and violence spread like disease, so does love, peace, and joy. It is an incredibly profound and simple truth. We do effect others. We influence others through our own beliefs and actions. We DO HAVE AN IMPACT.
You know this. It is truth. It is simple, yet it is not always easy.
All over the world; across every culture, every nationality, every religion, there do, in fact, exist millions and millions of people who, in spite of being taught to hate and destroy people who are "different," CHOOSE instead to love, honor, respect, and often celebrate their membership in the HUMAN RACE, to find the commonalities in others and to respect diverse practices and points of view.
And, in cultures where protections are afforded to protect free will, freedom of religion, speech, etc. we still see people choosing a lower path defined by prejudice.
In the long run, it always begins with us an individual level. That is where we begin the greater journey of coming together as a human family. It is where each and every one of us can begin to influence great change.
Dismantling the illusion of SEPARATION and embracing the TRUTH of ONENESS will only happen if we each do our individual part.
Maybe yours is to reduce your own violent thinking. Maybe it is to heal and forgive past wounds and digressions. Maybe it is to build bridges in your own "backyard" focusing on a local effort in your community. Maybe your first step is to open up the dialogues between diverse points of view.
Maybe it is to begin with your children, your friends, around the dinner table or at social gatherings.
Maybe it is through your state of being and thinking - just simply taking responsibility for WHO YOU CHOOSE TO BE.
For some it is to become more active in local, national, or international efforts.
For me it is about utilizing my talents, passions, and resources towards the vision of peace.
I write, I speak, I coach, I educate, I connect, I build bridges and hopefully, I assist in the raising of consciousness, one person at a time through my own authentic expressions.
I also choose to not let naysayers impact me. I ignore the hate mail that I receive. I look for the good in everyone and everything. I can disagree without blame and judgment and seek to deeply understand that each of us operates under a different set of "truths."
I believe in the potential of humanity. I believe that each of us can and will make a difference in the lives of future generations who will be born into our human family.
I choose my existence in thought and action every day. And, I realize that sometimes, in particular when I correspond with people suffering the impact of war and violence, it does not feel like it is enough. It may not feel realistic. It may not feel possible.
Yet, if I bought 1000 acres of farmland, maybe I would be capable of planting a few thousand seeds on my own. I could nourish and take care of the seedlings, setting up the conditions for new growth and I could then harvest that bounty when the time came.
Instead, I am asking that you join me and plant seeds of your own. Join me in this field of possibility and potential and together we can plant millions of seeds - the seeds of peace, love, respect, personal accountability, and evolution in consciousness, in decision making, in the choices we make in our interaction with our selves and others.
As a collective we can come together and every day join in the intention of planting seeds together. This is our part. Nothing is impossible when it comes to spreading love and unity.
And if, it seems too impossible to have an impact on this generation, keep in mind that the majority of people do possess the capacity for change. We have the capacity to evolve in our perceptions and in an instant we can be changed, at least on a personal level.
In an instant we can decide a new reality for ourselves. So, why not join with others in this intention? You KNOW it is possible. There is too much evidence that we can change, that we can evolve and grow and expand...that we can heal, forgive, and love.
This is my TRUTH - and I hope you join me in this field of possibility and healing.
Namasté, Anita
p.s. I recently received a letter from a young person living in Palestine, asking that, although they sense that many people have given up hope of a more peaceful tomorrow, that we include all people from the Middle East, no matter their own histories or current state of affairs, in this larger vision. I am including this letter and ask that you read it with an open mind, again, with the vision of healing the past through our actions and perceptions of today. Know that we can all grow in compassion and release blame and judgment as we write the history of tomorrow for our future generations.
BE PEACE - BE LIGHT - BE LOVE - BE FORGIVENESS - BE AN INSPIRATION - BE COMPASSION - BE....
Namaste, Anita
www.awakeningtopurpose.com
www.powerofmyway.com
Dear Anita,
I am sitting here now before my computer and the only thing I feel is passivity and impotence about the constant drama we are undergoing here in the Middle East. I am a Palestinian, a nationality that I am extremely proud of despite the stereotype people around the World have instilled about us.
I have been reading the Power of My Way blog and listening to some of the taped interviews and calls, and I'm growing more and more interested about the experiment especially that such gestures and endavours are very rare though highly needed.
I believe in humanity; that we all human beings are one. But living in Palestine under horrible and threatening situations has unfortunately become the "norm;" a manner of living and hatred has become the only emotion we express. Ever since I was born, I have been living and experiencing the Israeli army killing, humiliating, constantly holding us for hours on checkpoints, violating our privacy and freedom.
But that's not mainly why I am writing you for, but, rather to let you all know that peace is not merely needed for Israel and Lebanon. This is the only notion you emphasize in here. Yet, what about those couple of million Palestinians who breathe, smell, and feel nothing but death and blood? No light is being shed on our desperate situation. Therefore, as a Palestinian youth, I am fully aware of my people and now know and feel for sure that "peace" is nothing but an ironic term that people around the world shove in our faces the minute they get bored of a certain scenarios. In other words, it feels as if my people have become so sick and tired, and have absolutely given up any Peace process...
But, there has to be another alternative... It just breaks my heart seeing people around the world thirsty for others' blood. None of us is entitled to shed human beings blood; nobody has the right to take someone else's life. The more civilians that are killed in Palestine, Lebanon, Iraq, and Afghanistan among other countries, the more hatred and revenge feelings dominate people's psyches all over the globe. This has to end! This is why I am here, although I feel a bit lost in the readings and all.
Thanks for gesture, and hopefully more issues will be brought up, and more people will be participating. It is a seed of hope that you are growing in the Universe. Keep it up.
Regards,
Dana/ Ramallah, Palestine
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