The Art of Peace
“Better than a thousand hollow words
is one word that brings peace.”
Buddha
Monday marks the 2009 United Nations International Day of Peace. Observed each year on September 21st, the International Day of Peace is a global call for ceasefire and non-violence. In many places, it will the first time in months that a pause in fighting will allow humanitarian aid to get to people without food or medical care. In other safer locations, people committed to non-violence will gather to celebrate and learn about peacemaking. This year’s theme is WMD: We Must Disarm, a reminder that the letters ”WMD” can be transformed from their poisonous connotation to a message of hope!
Here in Texas on Sunday, September 20, the eve of the International Day of Peace, I will be participating in a brand new event called the Art of Peace Festival. The celebration, which will feature music, art, poetry and storytelling, is the creative brainchild of my friend University of Mary Hardin Baylor Art professor and innovative artist, Helen Kwiatkowski. Wanting a way to join in the U.N.’s global celebration of peace and to also take action locally, Helen has collaborated with her many creative and open-hearted friends to make her dream a reality. Those attending will enjoy entertaining musical and spoken word performances, while proceeds from the auction of donated original art and sales of Pinwheels for Peace will go to the Children’s Advocacy Center of Central Texas, one of the many important organizations devoted to peace one child at a time. You can visit the festival web site to read about this wonderful event that will take place at the Cedarbrake Retreat Center in the heart of Texas. Ihope you can join us as we say, We Believe in Peace!
I love the name Helen chose for the Festival — The Art of Peace. Besides denoting the creative aspects of the celebration, the title is a reminder that peace is an active endeavor: a set of choices, a purposeful practice, a life work, an art. Too often we assign the task of peace to politicians and NGOs a world away, while we continue our habits of harm.
Think about your own life. How are you doing as a peaceworker? Are you making or breaking peace in your relationships? Are you in a personal arms race with people you dislike or distrust? Has frustration turned to anger or even hatred? Are resistance, retrobution and revenge consuming desires for you? Have your conversations become weapons? Is it time for emotional disarmament? Could your heart use some humanitarian assistance? Do you need to set aside a Personal Day of Peace?
While it will be a joy to join in the global commemoration of the United Nations International Day of Peace, our internal commitment to peace is the most important celebration of all. If we are ever to move toward our dream of nonviolence, cooperation and compassion, we will each need to follow the advice of Buddha and my friend Helen. We will need to speak words of peace and to practice the personal, spiritual, daily Art of Peace!
Peace begins at home. Peace begins with us. Peace begins now.
When Peace is a Personal Endeavor, We Can Be a Blessing!
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September 18th, 2009 at 11:53 am
I know God’s hands will be entwined with yours. May you feel His blessings and know your heart is anointed.
September 21st, 2009 at 8:32 am
The Art of Peace Festival was an amazing event!! At the beautiful Cedarbrake Renewal Center in Temple, over a hundred people gathered to celebrate peace! Incredible singer songwriters offered new songs of hope, hilarious ballads of self-examination and a chance for us to raise our voices in singing inspiring folksongs that have empowered generations to believe the world can be a better place. We heard poetry that ranged from the sublime to the spiritual to the practical, and I told a ancient story whose message hold true today. To take peace home with us, there were beautiful pinwheels, a poetry-and-art anthology, T shirts, poetry books, music CDs and original art pieces. Dinner was delicious, the company was affirming, new friends were made, new collaborations were forged and our hearts were re-opened to the world. Best of all , thousands of dollars were raised for the Children’s Advocacy Center of Central Texas. What a miracle! All this began with a Helen Kwiatkowski’s personal dream for a peace event. She did what all of us can do- make peace more than words. She took action! My own dream is all of us are inspired to step forward and embrace “the art of living the art of peace!”
September 26th, 2009 at 7:35 am
As our relationships with Afghanistan and Iran are moving toward a more aggressive approach to solving problems, the quote from Jody Williams is even more pertinent. It is so great to dip into your website, Anne.
October 5th, 2009 at 10:44 am
How wonderful to have found your site! Since you are in Texas and an advocate of peace, I thought you might like to know about a campaign currently underway in Texas to support unarmed civilian peacekeeping.
Nonviolent Peaceforce (NP), an unarmed, professional civilian peacekeeping organization, has received a challenge grant from a supporter in Arlington. She has offered to match up to $20,000 in donations to NP from her fellow Texans for the remainder of 2009. We’re calling it the Lone Star Peacekeeping Challenge, and our goal is to fund one unarmed civilian peacekeeper in the field entirely with funds collected in Texas through this drive.
Supporters of nonviolent peacekeeping can make an online donation with “LONE STAR CHALLENGE” in the memo line at http://donate.nonviolentpeaceforce.org/en/givenow.php and their donation will be matched.
Can you help us spread the word about this opportunity in Texas?