Did you send Christmas cards this past year? Did you receive holiday cards for whichever holiday you and your family and friends celebrate?
Did you notice how many cards have the word or symbol for PEACE on them?
More than half the cards we received had the word PEACE on them somewhere and/or a dove.
We sent cards with a dove on the front.
Has sending holiday cards become like so much else in life now; words with no meaning, no feeling behind. Insincere. Prayers said over and over so you can think about something else while you pray. Salutations said but not meant. Endearments spoken but not special.
I don't want that in my life.
Is it really possible to eventually have peace in the world or have things gone too far away from sincerity, honesty, honor? I used to believe that one person could indeed make a difference and then reach out to one person at a time. Is that still possible or is it now an impossible dream? We as a people were taught respect for each other when I was growing up, and we were taught to be tolerant of each others beliefs and political affiliations. In my opinion people have lost their voice, their voice of honor, and have allowed others to lead them to a place that they yell "get rid of them" and "reload" aimed at people who don't think as they want them to or do as they want them to do or vote as they want them to vote. The weak and ill people who follow the dissidents are easily led to hatred and violence.
I will never stop believing that we all matter; no one is more important or more worthwhile than anyone else, even if some people think they are.
41 comments:
Keep believing, sister. I am.
-Don
It is possible. It has to be possible.
i am with you...i dont need empty salutations but i sure could use some peace...it would take a lot of change....
I would like to think that the wishes and salutations are true and sincere. And that I am grateful for the peace that I enjoy in my life today and pray that it will continue tomorrow and until the end and also in the life after.
I wonder with you if tha peace is still possible, but yes, like you I will keep believing that it is.
I couldn't help thinking about the current teenage generation as I read this. You're right. We were taught to respect one another, in spite of differences and in spite of the fact that we might not like one another. My daughter shows me things on FaceBook now and then... where it's not uncommon for kids to completely trash one another in writing. They say horrible, malicious things about one another and I can't believe they can say such things without feeling guilt afterwards. Really makes me think we're heading in the wrong direction with our goal for peace. If we can't find peace in our own communities, how can we bring it to the world?
Every year, I swear I won't send those Hallmark Holiday cards, but when I receive one from someone, I cave and reply. I don't like to ignore people and I want to respect the time they spent to send their annual letter and attached photos. It's hard to have time every day for all of the people in our lives. For me, it's just an annual need to reach out and say I haven't forgotten you and treasure the times we have shared. I like to send cards that wish people happiness and good will. I'm not naive enough to wish for peace on earth.
I believe. If you believe in peace, too, then there's a pair of us. Maybe it will spread if we just keep believing.
I wish I still believed there could be peace, but no, I don't have faith that there will ever really be peace. Not in my lifetime anyway.
People are angry. There's no peace in anger. People are constantly looking to blame others. There's no peace in blame. People talk of tolerance but all I really see and hear is intolerance. There is no peace in intolerance. People use any and every situation to twist it into something political, to prove that 'their way is the right way', or 'see, we told you, we were right all along'.
I read recently that true peace means more than 'a world without wars', true peace means peaceful hearts, minds, and souls and I just don't see that in my lifetime.
And recent events display anything but peach in the hearts, minds, and souls of mankind. So sad for us all.
Love and Prayers,
Eileen
I don't believe the world is any better or worse than it ever was. the only thing that changes is the ways in which we carry out our natures.
I don't know...humans have always had the ability to make choices, right or wrong, and it does seem the choices are more wrong than right these days.
I do believe that we are responsible for our own actions and if our actions are positive ones, it should (I say should) have a positive impact, on the world...that's what I believe...
I still believe most all people are good and loving. But people are influenced to go in both good and bad directions.
I can't stop thinking about the violence in Arizona and much will be discussed about it. I wish the discussions could be polite and peaceful but I doubt it.
Your words and questions are thoughtful and gave me some peace of mind. Thanks. Peace everywhere all the time - probably not possible. Peace can be local and if more enjoy it then they'll know how good it feels.
Sometimes, it's hard to have hope, but I think it's necessary.
I certainly hope so. In the meantime, all I can do is work on my own inner peace. If I worry to much about what other people are doing, I seem to falter. If I concentrate on my own inner peace, I am sure I am contributing to the movement in that direction for all.
Yes my friend, I do believe in peace....we have to change our tone, stop injecting words like, bullets, reload, man up all these words which only incite especially those who are not mentally stable. We must give a hand up not a hand out and we all have to speak with love, kindness and calm. We come from love and will return to love, it is what we do in between that will decide if we live in peace or war....I choose peace.....:-)Hugs
I hope so! We all need to try to teach those we care about to treat others as they want to be treated.
I believe in peace and also the right to voice an opinion. I may not agree with the opinion but will defend the right of others to have a voice. But the voice has to be a responsible one and not one steeped in violence or bigotry.
We do all matter and even if we change things in the most minimal way, then we will have helped.
I think most people are sincere in wanting peace and having a belief system. Too bad that the minority spoil it for all the rest.
I blame the PC brigade for a lot of the things that have happened.
Maggie X
Nuts in May
I'm hoping for it, but deep down I have my doubts.
There's nothing I hate more than being ask "How are you?" and the person leaves before I had a chance to answer. People just don't care and are stuck in their own bubbles, rushing and all. That is why I rarely ask how people are. I ask those I care to know the answer.
Well, my train of thought (because I often sign notes, letters, communications of many types) with the word, "Peace" is that to use it at Christmas is symbolic in that Christ was born as the "Prince of Peace." Just my own adaptation thereof, ya know. As to your wonderings if peace is a possibility or if one person can do anything, any thing good that is, don't ever stop believing that we, as a whole lot of "one person" can do something! Sometimes, I'm not sure what we can do in unison like that, but I have to believe in the power of people and of peace too!
After the events in Arizona yesterday I'm beginning to wonder if peace really is possible. I'd like to think it is but sometimes my faith is really shaken.
And you know what, the few holiday cards I sent had the word "peace" in it too.
xo jj
I suspect you don't mind me commenting twice here.
Your post prompted me to write a few thoughts about the Tucson tragedy. I mentioned your post. thanks
Yes, it's so very sad that we should all be feeling the pain. Nothing is as important as cherishing life, our own and also the lives of others, whether or not they agree with our views. I, too, would very much like to experience peace as a reality and not just something we thoughtlessly wish on each other.
You are right, many of the Christmas cards do speak of peace or have the word peace on them. Since the beginning of time people have sought to have peace...even though I believe we have a lot of us whom seek after peace, there are many that have lost hope of it.
I believe peace begins in each one of our hearts...when hate, anger, bitterness and resentment live in hearts, peace cannot exist or the outcome of that are things like bullying and horrible acts like yesterday in Arizona. When we have peace in our hearts, we can accept and tolerate veiws that oppose our own without lashing out in hate. We don't have this self righteous need to be "right" or to hate those that oppose our views.
Just as peace begins in our hearts, so does hatred and violence. When it's allowed to breed with self righteousness it has the ability to fester into a full blown outbreak and thus infect the weak vessels in comes in contact with.
I pray for peace daily. I hope for it constantly. Most of all I strive to have it for myself so that I can spread peace instead of hate.
Great post!
We are all one. I don't understand how we keep forgetting that we are all in this together. It is heartbreaking and devastating, Violence begets violence. That's it.
Hi! :)
I'm happy to be here again. I went to a movie this week. Where they were trying to show, that Peace on Earth is slowly happening.
I did not find it very convincing.... It also didn't give me any tools, of what i really can do. hmmmm i do believe in it though, because really, war doesn't make sense at all. So for me it is Peace!
i like your thinking. and i'd like to believe that peace IS possible.
I do my best to keep believing that peace is achievable... but it's a toughy!
Sx
Jim Morrison said 'they got the guns but we got the numbers' and when you think about it, you have to believe that common snese and peace result :)
Some peace would be wonderful. I have to keep believing. keep praying for it. I love your day you described in your comment you left for me. and lemon bars...I could just smell them.mmmmmmm. hugs.
yup, we all matter. we are not being fair and that's the toughest to comprehend.
One person can make a difference, Techno. You make a difference every time you share your heart on this blog and in comments. Those are not just words. That is the truth.
Keep doing what you do. One person at a time. It does matter.
I still believe, but it is hard to keep feeling that way sometimes. Good post. x
I think this year, when I was not able to do cards and so received only a few I just gave up on them. I'm already keeping up with everyone who matters most to me, so it seems unnecessary. But when I did I usually went with peace or something related to environmentalism. When I give up on those tow ideals, there won't be much left for me.
One of the reasons I participate in the Blogblast for Peace each year is because I do believe one person can influence another and they can influence others.
The Blogblast is a perfect example. The first year there were maybe 200 of us...
We need to keep believing.
We have to believe. If we don't, it's over.
....peace on earth. I wish that too. Although not that frequent.
I am bad, yet i never wish my students to follow the darker road in life.
At peace, within.
I think we can strive for peace in our own lives, but no more. It is this sort of peace that I wish for when sending cards at Christmas. There always has been and always will be hatred, violence and war somewhere in the world...
yes, this TB.
exactly.
Peace often requires one side being able to back down. Using my household as an example, I am ALWAYS the side that backs down. I often wonder whether that is truly peace.
Now I think this blogger is a hungry machine.
I know I just left a comment and it did not show up.
So if it shows up late - well more for you!
Empty salutations at least are something neutral - sometimes it's the best that a person can muster up.
But yeah. I believe!
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