March 2008
AS WITH ST. FRANCIS SOME PEOPLE CARRY THEIR MONASTERY WITHIN!
Posted by Doug on March 27, 2008
Lord, make me a channel of Your peace,
Where there is hatred, let me sow Your love;
where there is injury Your pardon Lord;
and where there is doubt true faith in You;
where there’s despair let me bring hope;
where there is darkness only light;
where there is sadness ever joy;
O Master, grant that I may never seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love with all my soul.
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Sometimes Christians are called to turn the world upside down. To bring the exact opposite of what we find in our world Ring the warning bell! for the above does not just apply to Christians but to all of us who want positive change in the world, who want to make the world better for both others and themselves. St. Francis’ prayer is a bold one, asking for strength to give of ourselves to meet the needs of others. He recognizes that it “is in giving that we receive”, that as we give of ourselves, we receive the peace and blessing of our risen Lord Jesus. We cannot earn eternal life, but that we are pardoned from the sins that block our claim on it.
Think about the situations that you are involved in that require peace, consolation, hope, light and joy. Then, if you’re bold enough, pray the prayer then go out and do the job!
St. Francis was born at Assisi in 1182. After a care free youth, he turned his back on inherited wealth and committed himself to God. Like many early saints, he lived a very simple life of poverty, and in so doing, gained a reputation of being the friend of animals. He established the rule of St Francis, which exists today as the Order of St. Francis, or the Franciscans. He died in 1226, aged 44.
ARE MONASTERIES, RICH IN THE HISTORY OF BELLS, THE ONLY PLACES TO FIND TRUE PEACE?
Posted by Doug on March 26, 2008
Can monasteries, abbeys, houses of prayer and retreat centers, which are certainly conducive to finding peace, give us lasting peace? May they just be houses for finding outer peace, getting away from the cares and concern of the world? Is not inner peace a constant struggle that can be minimized by an attitude of gratefulness for the blessings we already have?
How true are Thomas Merton’s words from Thoughts in Solitude, 1956 or do they apply to a world of the past?
“Bells are meant to remind us that God alone is good, that we belong to Him, that we are not living for this world. They break in upon our cares in order to remind us that all things pass away and that our preoccupations are not important. They speak to us of our freedom, which responsibilities and transient cares make us forget. They are the voice of alliance with the God of heaven. They tell us that we are His true temple. They call us to peace with Him and within ourselves.”
“The way to enlightenment is simply that of surrendering the barriers that preclude the state of realization.” Dr. David Hawkins: psychiatrist
WHAT IS PEACE? WHO AGREES….WHO THINKS OTHERWISE?
Posted by Doug on March 25, 2008
“Peace (is a lot more work than war) is not to be obtained by brute force and by the violent, despotic suppression of our appetites. Peace is not the work of force but the fruit of love. And love means submission to Christ, docile subjection to his Spirit.
True peace is the work of God’s mercy and not of man’s will. When we yield ourselves to him in love, his presence itself appeases our desires and quiets the rebellious passions.”
(Thomas Merton, LIFE AND HOLINESS, page 113)…
Not sure if you agree, if so or if not, let us know how You feel about peace.
SIMPLE SYMBOL RINGS IN ITS 50TH ANNIVERSARY!
Posted by Doug on March 24, 2008
The simple universal “PEACE SYMBOL” celebrates its 50th anniversary today! It is actually quite simple and because we can all draw it, because it belongs to all of us (Gerald Holtom its designer and the anti-nuclear campaign deliberately didn’t copyright the symbol, no one owns it – or, perhaps everyone does). Holtom’s simple three lines and a circle symbol started in London and did confound at least one of the anti-nuclear campaigners who was to have said, It doesn’t mean a thing and it will never catch on.’ A broken rifle, a dove and bells, later or even before, are things that would be immediately associated in people’s minds with peace but if you’re looking at it now it’s impossible to separate it from all the history that has gone on since.
The symbol is a combination of semaphonic symbols. The ‘n’ and ‘d’ of nuclear disarmament were its source which is surrounded by a circle. To me they symbolize two people open to peace. One, the n, with two flags at angles by his sides open to the other person , the d, with two flags forming a straight line above and below the person as a symbol of “Yes!” They are superimposed on each other and surrounded by the circle which represents all of us on this earthly sphere. Peace begins within and with another, yes we are all individually connected to each other and then to the world.
ie Ring bells daily realizing peace begins within (the sound can and often will connect with another). Ring bells monthly realizing peace, this circle called earth, this circle of life, connects us all to each other.
BELLS RING! TRUMPETS PLAY! CHOIRS SING, ITS EASTER DAY!
Posted by Doug on March 23, 2008
The most special and significant day in human history if you believe Jesus is Risen! A day filled with meaning or filled with the biggest hoax on humankind. I have chosen with faith, hope and love to believe…. He is Risen!
Please watch the following quite amazing real truth! Which version do you believe?
This is a most amazing and provocative short message and you MUST let it run both forward and backward to receive the true implications of what is ’the Truth’….a truly clever piece put together with a lot of thought. Check it out.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsPBVNecOMo
BELLS RING-IN SPRING DAY (EARTH DAY)! HAPPY EQUINOX, WE ARE ALL EQUAL!
Posted by Doug on March 20, 2008
Yes today the Japanese Peace Bell Ceremony will commence at the United Nations, NY and bells will ring across Europe celebrating Spring Day, The Original Earth Day. Receiving the same amount of sunlight all over the globe we are all equal today. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we all shared equally in the light of creation with proper food and water for our bodies and freedom, fraternity and peace for our souls? Would you care to join us in this day of bell ringing celebrations? Would you care to become active in making the world a place of equality for all of our brothers and sisters on this special sphere of humanity we call earth? As we try and comprehend our individual tasks during our precious moments on this earthly village let us all send out a wave of gratitude as our global sphere sails through this universe of mystery and wonder.
Special note :Our hearts goes out to John McConnell who is the first trustee of Earth Day (Spring Day March 20th and my birthday) as he will be 93 on March 22nd. http://www.earthsite.org/ The Original Earth Day
“The vernal equinox calls on all mankind to recognize and respect Earth’s beautiful systems of balance, between the presence of animals on land, the fish in the sea, birds in the air, mankind, water, air, and land. Most importantly there must always be awareness of the actions by people that can disturb this precious balance.” Margaret Mead 1977
LET’S CHIME IN WITH SOME UNDERSTANDING!
Posted by Doug on March 19, 2008
The Gallup Center for Muslim Studies with executive director Dalia Mogahed and Prof. John Esposito surveyed some 50,000 Muslims in more than 35 countries and come out with some very interesting results. When asked what they admired most about the West, Muslims said, technology and democracy. What they disliked was the perceived moral laxity and libertinism of the West which is exactly what Americans who were polled answered to those same questions. As human beings we are the same, we want freedom and peace but like us they fear political domination and occupation. According to the survey what is most interesting it that when Americans were asked what they knew about Muslims in 2002 fifty-four percent said they knew nothing or not much. When asked the same question in 2007, 57% gave the same answer. Even though we are more engaged with this part of the world we are no closer to understanding it. Most startling is that when Americans were asked what do you admire most about the Muslim World the most frequent answer was “nothing.”
We first need to begin to know them which will lead to understanding. Then we need a political dialogue which shows that we admire and respect many of the things about their life and culture. If we stop looking down on them and cultivate with positive diplomacy understanding and friendship this in turn may get them to move faster toward their style of democracy and toward controlling extremists and possibly ridding their culture of terrorist. Like with our racial problems of the past 200+ years this process will take time, the question is, when do we want to begin? When do you want to begin? When will it be too late?
Nelson Mandela wrote in Long Walk To Freedom, “To make peace with an enemy one must work with that enemy and that enemy becomes one’s partner.”
OBAMA RINGS A BELL FOR UNITY! A MOVEMENT TOWARD PEACE?
Posted by Doug on March 18, 2008
The foundations for our country were set down in this city over 237 years ago and possibly the foundations for positive change, growth and development were being set down in Philadelphia (the city of brotherly love?) today. Was this just a political moment or does it transcend politics and move our country toward substantive change? Obama’s openness and heartfelt speech, a message of understanding, seems to be in the right direction. This might be a historical tipping point in his bid for the democratic nomination. Tibet at the same time is in revolution and disagreement with the Chinese and the Dali Lama (a man of peace ?) and their leader is ready to step down. The world is filled with movement toward change let us hope it is a continuing, slow, methodical procession toward unity, fraternity and peace. Have you done some personally or collectively to move us in that direction? Do you think it is necessary for us to do it individually and together? What can you do/ What can we all do?
SAINT PATRICK….A SAINT WITH A BELL AND A PURPOSE!
Posted by Doug on March 17, 2008
St. Patrick although not Irish has had a most lasting effect not only on Ireland and the Irish but on the rest of the world as well. He of course was well know for using his klogga (bell) to attract peoples attention and then telling them the “Good News” of the Gospels. He was bold and courageous but with a kind and loving heart. Are we as citizen leaders so bold and committed to a purpose that will change not only the lives of those around us in a positive way but possibly be know in the future as making a significant change in the world that we helped foster peace, unity and love among our brothers and sisters?
BELLS RING TO ANNOUNCE INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY!
Posted by Doug on March 11, 2008
The fight for women’s rights continues. Women are still considered second class citizens and for too many of them the world has been decimated by poverty, disease and conflict sustained by male indifference. There is a need for the United Nations to create a new international agency for women. Properly funded and directed this agency can bring much needed attention to women’s situation in much of the world from the nightmare levels of maternal mortality and sexual violence to the harrowing vulnerability of women and girls in the face of the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Today there is a call not just for speeches but for action. This new agency, although not a cure all will hopefully open the door and provide a greater opportunity for gender equality. Part of 21 Solutions to Save The World.
