Peace Points

Let It Begin With Me

2013-02-07T15:27:00.002-08:00

You've heard the song and the saying; let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me. It may be a beautiful song and a great, albeit, contrived saying however, it hasn't seemed to work, at least on a grand or global scale.

Peace is often seen as everyone elses problem. If they would just stop doing this or that, then there would be a resolution and peace could then be possible. If they would stop bombing us, if they would stop marginalizing us, if he would stop teasing me, if she would stop nagging me, if they would keep their dog out of our yard, etc.

Peace, however, must begin with a person who can sometimes be a doormat. That is very unpopular for humans. We don;t have much ambition to be walked on or used no matter what the outcome might be. Ironically, the people we most remember and who have impacted the world the most were the giants of humanity that were able to do just that. God is Light and in God there is no darkness. Darkness can block the light, but the light cannot be destroyed. However, in contrast, light can expunge the darkness. Peace is not as far away as it seems. It begins with you and me. Let it!

Doing and Being

2013-02-06T17:44:00.004-08:00

We spend most of our lives "doing". Few of us spend a healthy amount of time "being". It is true that even when we are relaxing, meditating or praying we are still doing something. In fact, even when we are sleeping we are "doing". Yet, there is a plethora of evidence that shows how people who meditate are more emotionally stable, more intelligent and more creative. Research tells us that this is largely because the cortical regions of the brain are thicker in people who meditate regularly. These thicker areas of the brain protect the organ, prevent impulsiveness and promote health and wellness.

Even a few minutes per day of what I call, Intentional Thought Therapy, can make a huge difference in so many areas of health. I find that the brain and the neural activity that defines us, very fascinating. As neuroscience progresses we see how flexible the brain is in its ability to change (neuroplasticity) and reorganize itself. The ability to create new networks in the brain (neurogeneisis) should be an exciting invitation to spend time "being" as the simple act of stopping and de-cluttering is precisely where this positive and amazing change takes place.

The pursuit of peace in our lives, homes, and world is directly dependent on people developing their ability to "be" and not just "do". Taking time to "be" is actually more important than just about anything in life. It refreshes the soul, provides a happiness or a joy, allows a person to think clearly and use critical thinking skills. It fights crime, poor health, sadness and rage.

Peace,

Brent

Communicating With Nature.

2011-07-28T05:18:00.000-07:00

Connecting with nature may be a more common term but, communicating with nature may be more appropriate. Listening and hearing nature is dependant on a person who is willing to embrace silence and solitude while learning to set aside the events, moments and stressors of the real world. Indeed, it may be time to spend more time bringing an unreal world into the picture to shape and reshape what is. In religious philosophies, there is the ideal world that is marked by love, kindness, forgiveness and gentleness. From Christ's "on earth as it is in heaven" to Bhudda's "enlightenment", ideal thoughts and convictions argue against pain, suffering and death. In the real world we laugh at such a notion that people-let alone people AND nature-could ever live in peace or without violent conflict. Yet, we see glimpses of our efforts to do just that: We develop medicine to fight pain and prolong life; this is significant proof that we want something better...something "unreal".

Humans have huge imaginations and anything that is imagined is possible. And when, or if, humanity can ever decide on how to live out the difference between cruelty and non-cruelty, elements of the "unreal" world will start to emerge. Universally we all have a basic and similar understanding of cruelty and non-cruelty but government, money, power and greed blanket efforts.

I finished a great book from a prominent theoritical physicist a few months ago that explained how humans may be able to create an atmosphere on a distant planet and hence make it habitable. The ability to fly into space may not be so big a step as we've thought it to be. More and greater accomplishments may still be on the horizon. What has been done in 100 years may pale in comparison to what is done in 1000 years.

Nature has a lot to offer in the way of being a catalyst for wonder and thought. It may not itself be god, or God, but it is a much neglected tool for growth and inspiration.

If the roar of traffic, buzz of governemnt shutdowns, hum of "bills to pay" and cries of the steets haunt you-and they should-consider how some time in the arms of a thought-provoking and life-changing natural setting may position you to offer encouragement and change in your own heart, family, community or world. A more ideal one indeed.

Communicating with nature, or nature's creator, means seeing the good and peaceful, recognizing the painful and hideous, and wondering how we can re-create the world in the face of that common barrier that says "you can't change the way things are".

Draw the Line

2010-11-07T05:35:00.000-08:00

Non-peace promoting actions are generally camouflaged in excuses like "this was an exception" or "it was necessary to help others". Peace is not an option though, it is a road without rabbit trails. A person is either on the road of peace on they are not. There is not a path that leads to peace, rather there is a path that is called peace and from it there are no turn arounds, exits or intersections.

Pursuing peace means self-confidence, purpose, courage and compassion are heightened and the ability to speak peace into any situation is refined and powerful.

Pursue peace. Decide to be a Peacemaker. Draw the Line and step onto the road that is peace.

P: Perform acts of kindness. Make it a habit because that is the way you are, not just a random decision.
E: Embrace times of silence and solitude in natural places.
A: Avoid the unhealthy pursuit of wealth and power.
C: Consider the interests of others as equal or more important than your own.
E: Encourage non-violence in all of life and every situation.

Wealth and Power

2010-11-05T07:09:00.000-07:00

Studies show time and time again that if a person's needs are met then the amount of wealth they posssess is irrelevant to their degree of happiness. hence, people with very little are among the happiest people in the world.

Peace, contentment, security, confidence and sense-of-purpose are all elements necessary for a life of happiness. All of them are unrelated to money directly. Money has a secondary influence on these things.

The pursuit of wealth and power is not healthy or necessary to your degree of happiness. Meeting your basic economic needs is easy and rewarding when your primary goal is to embrace life and make a difference in the lives of others.

P-E-A-C-E

P: Perform acts of kindness. Make it a habit because that is the way you are, not just a random decision.

E: Embrace times of silence and solitude in natural places.

A: Avoid the unhealthy pursuit of wealth and power.

C: Consider the interests of others as equal or more important than your own.

E: Encourage non-violence in all of life and every situation.

Pursue Peace

2010-11-04T08:11:00.000-07:00

Think Peace!

Attitude matters. Attitude is the beginning of change. More and more people are thinking through the possibilities of peace and what peace should, or could look like. It is not an easy thing to patch together because we are so accustomed to anti-peace. But, peace is possible and it is coming...someday!

It is a true statement to say that "peace begins with me". A simple thought can give birth to a new reality and we know that peace is certainly on the minds of a growing number of people.

Think Peace!

Peace Is Hard, But Not Trickey.

2010-10-31T04:47:00.001-07:00

P: Perform acts of kindness. Make it a habit because that is the way you are, not just a random decision.

E: Embrace times of silence and solitude in natural places.

A: Avoid the unhealthy pursuit of wealth and power.

C: Consider the interests of others as equal or more important than your own.

E: Encourage non-violence in all of life and every situation.

Pursue Peace

2010-10-30T04:20:00.001-07:00

Be a Person of Peace and Non-Violence

2010-10-29T10:45:00.000-07:00

Are You a Threat?

2010-09-12T06:37:00.000-07:00

Conflict at work-and even at home-is often the result of the learned behavior behavior of one party in dealing with the unpredictable nature of another party. If you are the person who can go from happy and laid back, to grumpy and curt all in the same meeting, you may benefit from an emotions management course. Even if you believe that other people at work are usually the problem with regard to how they treat you, it may be a matter of projection. If another person has had a negative encounter with you they may be "on guard" when you are present. Perhaps the way you reacted to one situation was a "trigger" for them and now they view you as unpredictabe. It is not necessary to be a doormat however, it is necessary to be sensitive enough to how others treat you to calmly and politely discuss their concerns about you and then rather than defending yourself, apologize and try to understand their view. Then, the door will be open for both dialogue with them and if possible or necessary, for you to consider how you can become more predictable, and by extension, more respected.

Dr. Silence

2010-08-21T07:13:00.000-07:00

He is often a bit rude as he forces you to create something out of nothing. He does not allow any possible distractions in his clinic, so you are alone with no one but yourself. No magazines, no radio, no tv, no smart phones, wall pictures, human or synthetic noises, or games to play. He does however, allow you to visit him in the solitude and energizing surroundings of a still, sunny, warm day in a natural place with somethings that can hardly be catagorized as noise...and surely not distractions; birds, creeks, wind, leaves.

He guarantees his service will allow you to face the real you and make plans for a new day, a new adventure or a new beginning. His presence allows you to fall in love with yourself, yet will inspire humility. Dr Silence is always in and available. Set your own appintment and then prepare to enjoy him as he will surely mold a new perspective, a brighter tomorrow, a broader worldview and a delightfully simple prescription for your own peace; one that will influence your corner of the world.

Acts of Kindness

2010-08-13T08:15:00.000-07:00

I like the phrase "perform random acts of kindness". But, I also do not like it. It makes "being kind" seem like a game where you just occasionally see a need and meet it with a kind act. That is great however, becoming a person of kindness, marked by kindness and defined by being kind may not always be pleasant or easy. There will be many more times where real acts of kindness must come from a thoughtful spirit that says "I will do this because it is good and right, and because this is the person I want to be" even when it is not easy, convenient or perhaps, costs more than most people would be willing to afford.

A genuinely kind person does not perform "random" acts of kindness; they are marked by consistency, not randomness. Perform REAL acts of kindness.

peacepoints

Money Might Cost You More Than You Can Afford.

2010-08-12T12:27:00.000-07:00

The best things in life really are free. A lady asked me what would be wrong with living in a certain place, a certain way and then taking vacations to nicer places. I said "it seems that would be like hitting my thumb with a hammer everyday of the year and then quitting for a couple of weeks each year to help it heal."

Money dictates way too much of what we embrace, what we do and where we go. We have to protect it, save it, account for it and more. We even spend money trying to keep it from robbers, having someone else watch it and paying others to use it.

Most people work to save some of it to spend it on something that is almost free: Enjoying nature, walks in the hills and through the forest, skiing over fresh fallen snow, sitting on a tree stump for a romantic picnic adventure and listening to a mountain stream dance through the rocks.

The pursuit of financial gain and accumulation can be costly. So, what is the conclusion here? What is the point of this posting? Only to cause thought.

Peace to You!

What Did I Miss?

2010-08-11T07:39:00.000-07:00

I should have never started thinking about it, but I did. I always got a little bit annoyed when people visiting Alaska would complain that they never saw a bear, a moose or a lynx.They would drive from Anchorage to Fairbanks and in 8 hours and 400 miles, see "nothing".

I guess it was a good thing because now I am usually on the lookout for what I might be missing. We often hurry along-speeding through life-and miss the bear, moose or lynx which did not miss us at all. We walk fast, drive fast and run past more than we will ever know. I wonder how much more I actually see in a 200 mile drive or a 20 mile bike ride than I observe in a 1 hour rest on a little mountain knoll with a pair of eyes and an inquiring heart?

Since bikes are great and cars are necessary perhaps my plan should be to take the lessons and the peace I embrace on "little mountain knolls" into all areas of living! Now, that is living!

peacepoints

Humility or Entitlement

2010-08-10T07:50:00.000-07:00

P Perform acts of kindness

E Embrace Silence and Solitude and Nature.
A Avoid the unhealthy pursuit of wealth and power.
C Consider the interests of others as equal or more important than your own and broaden your world view.
E Encourage non-violence.

I was listening to a young teenager filled with rage. In this treatment facility the kids do not have to do what they are told. If they choose poorly they will not receive certain privileges. This resident had destroyed hundreds of dollars worth of property (on site, not including his crimes that landed him here). He had earned himself consequences that meant no nice snacks for seven days, as well as other losses, however, a mistake in computer reports turned his consequences into just one day. In spite of his good fortune, his verbal abuse of a staff person and filthy talk that day was threatening to added another 24 hours to the loss of privileges. He cursed, complained and cried. "You can't do that! I didn't do nothin. You fuckin' pathetic bitches. Fuck this place." A broken child indeed and yet, even broken people have to learn certain principles to live in community with others.

We have encouraged ourselves in western culture to embrace a sense of entitlement. People OWE me. Society OWES me. I DESERVE this. GIVE me that! A secure, confident and humble heart says, "I have what I need. What I need is something I already possess that is deep inside and cannot be taken away! If someone needs some hope, confidence, compassion or love, they can borrow some of mine until they some of their own!"

Yes, we want to give and instill this truth in our young and we should always pursue this truth as we grow. Conflict in the world has at its roots a sense of entitlement and a lack of humility. How can you and I facilitate the growth of self-confidence, humility and generousity in our lives, families and culture?

Peace is wrapped in such character traits.

P-E-A-C-E

peacepoints :)

Risks of Pursuing Wealth and Power

2010-08-09T07:55:00.000-07:00

A recent news article at Yahoo underscores the dangers of pursuing wealth and power. One of the known reasons for the fall of the Roman empire highlighted in Edward Gibbons 19th century work The Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire was the widening gap between the rich and the poor. Yahoo news points out that America's welath is owned by only 10% of the nation. The gap has grown incredibly over the past 50 years.

The solution is not to take the wealth away by government interference-although taxation is necessary-but rather for people to pursue things other than wealth. The health of the individual will grow and a fit balance of power will be emerge as people make wealth less important.

There are so many healthy things that can take the place of the pursuit of wealth and power that most people want, but fail to understand are available without money (ie. family, fitness, nature, friends, laughing, walking, loving, playing).

P-E-A-C-E,

Peacepoints

Here, Have a Glass Of Poison.

2010-08-08T08:52:00.000-07:00

It's a great analogy. Bitterness harbored in the heart of a person or a peoples is like drinking a glass of poison and saying to your enemy, "I hope this kills you."

Peace is difficult. It requires determination, confidence, intelligence and self-esteem. Yet, every person in the world would probably agree that if there was one thing that they could change it would be to stop pain, suffering and death.

Medical science works to prevent pain and end suffering. It works to accomplish the goal of peace in the body; health. Should we not always be working to end pain, suffering and death no matter how enormous the task may seem? In all things and into all situations; speak P-E-A-C-E.

Blueberry Jam

2010-08-07T11:10:00.000-07:00