Peace from the inside out

The first peace, which is the most important, is that which comes within the souls of people when they realize their relationship, their oneness, with the universe and all its powers, and when they realize that at the centre of the universe dwells Wakan-Taka (The great Spirit), and thatthis centre is really everywhere, it is within each of us.

This is the real peace, and the others are but reflections of this. The second peace is that which is made between two individuals, and the third is that which is made between two nations. But above all you should understand that there can never peace between nations until there is first known that true peace, which is said is within our souls.

Black Elk- Oglala Sioux

Congruence means that who I am on the inside is reflected in my thoughts, words and actions. What does this mean when it comes to living peacefully? Sometimes these thoughts seem so very difficult to achieve yet I heard a real example of a daily change I can make in my own life which moves me further along the way to congruence. Two friends in my dream group were talking about creating space for drivers who are trying to merge in their lane.

There is the section of Crowchild Trail where several drivers drive along a right 'none' lane, and speed ahead of us in the 'proper' lane... then they pull into our lane when their none lane runs out. Being your basic, 'highly evolved' soul...I glare at those interlopers. I can allow, with certain distain, one car to pull in...and my frustration is so strong I would avoid that section of road at rush hour.

I continue to track my Journey to Peace, and while there are others who think of my work in Iraq, Sri Lanka, Columbia as examples of my peace work; in my real world my struggle is less grand and more practical. So wave at me in my car as I let you into my lane...oops...perhaps better to say I welcome you into the North headed traffic on Crowchild. Martha- remember to breathe deeply, relax your shoulders, relax and enjoy the music...and get where you are headed safely and peacefully.