1999-2019: Celebrating 20 Years of Ripples
Ripples #1074: Peace and Joy!
Dec 23, 2019
PEBBLE
There can never really be any peace and joy for me until there is peace and joy finally for you too.
—Frederick Buechner, shared by Emma in Missoula, MT via Values.com https://www.passiton.com/inspirational-quotes/7416
BOULDER
Peace is a daily, a weekly, a monthly process, gradually changing opinions, slowly eroding old barriers, quietly building new structures. And however undramatic the pursuit of peace, that pursuit must go on.
-John F. Kennedy, shared by Kami in Wisconsin Rapids, WI
kharper@becu.net
PONDER
As we slide into Christmas, I thought this would be a good time to think about the pursuit of peace inside ourselves, within our communities, and throughout the world. These are all ambitious goals, made more elusive because we’ve forgotten how intertwined they are. Inner turmoil prevents us from enjoying peaceful surroundings, and living among discord makes it really difficult to find stillness within. The upside is that since they are so interconnected, working on one moves us closer to the others.
Cultivating inner peace develops courage, persistence, and patience which can help us nurture peace among friends, family, and colleagues. This in turn improves our mindset and skillset, allowing us to tackle more complex issues that are not easily resolved and yet still need our attention.
The longer and more arduous the journey, the more important it is to start early and keep moving. Our world gets better each time we stop waiting for others to take action and recognize that our own pursuits of peace can inspire others.
So, fellow Ripplers, what actions can you take this week to expand your peaceful pursuits?
Peace,
Paul
The Ripples Guy
