Wisdoms from the Journey - Vol IV (Nov 2011 thru Apr 2012)

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The War on Peace … (03/26/2012) “When we remember that we are all mad, the mysteries disappear and life stands explained.” ~ Mark Twain Today marks the 10 year, 5 month, 19 day anniversary of our entry into the Afghanistan War — a conflict that has claimed the lives of at least 49,344 lives (that is the low-end estimate; the real total is probably much, much higher) … with at least one fourth of those killed being civilians who had nothing at all to do with the war; civilians whose family-members now have a very understandable rage against and hatred for the United States. In essence, we have engaged a “war on terror” and are thereby creating terrorists … That is completely insane. We also learn today that the American government has agreed to pay $50,000 to the families of each of the 16 Afghani citizens killed by a U.S. soldier earlier this year after he opened fire on them while they slept. $50,000? … seriously? … That, too, is just as crazy. Throwing our money around is not going to solve the problem. Apologizing sincerely, leaving the country immediately, and sending planeloads of flowers & food would be a start. And as ridiculous as that last option sounds, it’s actually not too far-fetched a concept— After all, 33 years ago today Egypt and Israel signed a Peace Accord that actually bore good fruit for many years. Of course, such a rational choice is simply not going to happen. There is too much “wealth” at stake — there are too many egos involved; too many folks who don’t have the guts to be courageous enough to do the Right Thing and humbly step away when they had the chance. “Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people … and neither do we.” ~ George W. Bush (signing a multi-billion dollar defense spending bill) 62
“When you’re training for this, you joke about it, you can’t wait for the real thing. Then when you see it, when you see the real thing, you never want to see it again.” ~ Capt. Sal Aguilar (standing in a field with dead Iraqis all around him) But what does this all have to do with us? What can we really do to make a difference; what can we do to help end this madness? Very little, of course … Our votes are not going to change our government’s policies; that has been proven over and over again for the past several decades. And the angry words of Occupy Wall Street are clearly raining down on deaf ears … AND YET, no one “in power” can stop us from being the change we wish to see … No one can stop us from creating the Caring Community in which we wish to live: *No one can stop me from being Kind to strangers … *No one can stop me from championing forgiveness … *No one can stop me from selflessly serving the poor … For if I cannot stop war abroad, at the very least I will make Peace at Home … Please go forth today and help me make it happen. LOVE is the Revolution, my Friends … … got LOVE? “Revolutionary subordination exposes the evils of power and violence without mirroring them – by gently allowing them to destroy themselves … and then rising above the ruins.” ~ Shane Claiborne 63
Page 1 and 2:
Wisdoms from the Journey (Volume IV
Page 3 and 4:
“You do not write your life with
Page 5 and 6:
An Introduction to what Follows Eve
Page 7 and 8:
Not giving up … (11/01/2011) “I
Page 9 and 10:
Letting GO … (11/03/2011) “I tr
Page 11 and 12: I could provide many more examples
Page 13 and 14: Let’s Dance … (11/06/2011) It
Page 15 and 16: Fare-well for Now … (11/07/2011)
Page 17 and 18: To Live, LOVE … (12/29/2011) “C
Page 19 and 20: The Final Step … (12/29/2011) “
Page 21 and 22: Never growing UP … (01/05/2012) S
Page 23 and 24: A Cure for every dis-ease … (01/2
Page 25 and 26: In essence, I think I’m going to
Page 27 and 28: Sometimes our Love “wakes them up
Page 29 and 30: Kindness matters … (01/24/2012) Y
Page 31 and 32: Glass half-full … (02/03/2012)
Page 33 and 34: Do Good anyway … (02/18/2012) I l
Page 35 and 36: Seeking & Finding … (02/22/2012)
Page 37 and 38: Fulfilling the Wish … (02/25/2012
Page 39 and 40: Fred Rogers reminded us all that re
Page 41 and 42: your Inner Saint … (02/29/2012) I
Page 43 and 44: Turning it around … (03/02/2012)
Page 45 and 46: Making life Great … (03/04/2012)
Page 47 and 48: Waking UP … (03/06/2012) “Any a
Page 49 and 50: Becoming humble as a child … (03/
Page 51 and 52: Being super-Strong … (03/13/2012)
Page 53 and 54: Giving anyway … (03/15/2012) “L
Page 55 and 56: In essence folks, we cannot be the
Page 57 and 58: And how do we go about doing this,
Page 59 and 60: That’s right, every time you choo
Page 61: Kill Kony and another “evil” ma
Page 65 and 66: Courage to encourage … (03/28/201
Page 67 and 68: To get the full effect of what I’
Page 69 and 70: And yet that is not the only reason
Page 71 and 72: And then of course there is the cur
Page 73 and 74: to Serve … (04/04/2012) “Servic
Page 75 and 76: Embracing real Hope … (04/09/2012
Page 77 and 78: Every little deed counts, folks …
Page 79 and 80: Frankly, it doesn’t really matter
Page 81 and 82: Rest assured, my Friends, every sin
Page 83 and 84: Love’s happy Leap … (04/14/2012
Page 85 and 86: After all, this issue is not at all
Page 87 and 88: Love’s full Cup … (04/21/12) It
Page 89 and 90: A kind word from his father encoura
Page 91 and 92: Perfect Tempo … (04/23/2012) “S
Page 93 and 94: And when we do finally depart, we w
Page 95 and 96: As it became quickly clear that the
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Wisdoms from the Journey - Vol IV (Nov 2011 thru Apr 2012)

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