P.E.A.C.E

The dots between the letters tell you, undoubtedly, that I’m using P.E.A.C.E. as an acronym—a word made up of the first letters of additional words that spells another word altogether. This one comes from the brilliant mind of the luscious Iyanla Vanzant, a spiritual teacher based in Maryland. It stands for:

Please Excuse All Crazy Experiences

Is that not phenomenal? I think it is. So very often when we hold out an ideal for our world, we dangle the ideal. Dangle it? Lambast with it is more like it, but we forget one vital piece of the puzzle. And that is the indubitable how question.

Yeah, of course, peace is an excellent idea, concept, theory, but practically? No way, man. Now if you are a reader of these pages, you know there are squillions of tiny ways to foster peace on earth. People do it every day.

The thing is, this acronym is like that famous A. J. Muste peace quote, “There is no way to peace. Peace is the way.”

Think with me. Try this out. I mean it. What if, every single day, every single person were to make it a practice to ask that others please excuse all crazy experiences, no matter what kind? This acronym carries a fertile seed in its very self.

When I excuse all crazy experiences, I am more peaceable.

When I ask others to please excuse all crazy experiences, they are more peaceable.

It’s a pretty all-encompassing practice that reminds us that we are able to bring peace to any crazy experience. One crazy experience at a time.

Every creative act of ours in relation to other people--an act of love, of pity, of help, of peacemaking--not merely has a future but is eternal. Nikolay Berdyayev (1874-1948) Philosopher

Meditate, engage in daily prayers, read uplifting books, commune with Mother Nature--in some way try to remove yourself from the discord of the everyday world that invades your sense of inner peace. Stephen R. Covey

If there is any peace it will come through being, not having. Henry Miller

Peace will come if we give it room. Barbara Leger in July 2008 SoM

Be a conscious contributor to peace. Rev. Ruth Deaton July SoM Daily Guides

If you yourself are at peace, then there is at least some peace in the world. Thomas Merton

The secret of abiding peace of mind is to become identified with the Infinite Presence and Power within you, which leads to ineffable peace. As this inner peace comes to you, you unite mentally and emotionally with the Infinite Presence within you of love, harmony, and power, feeling these qualities flowing through you. Joseph Murphy

Peace is not the absence of conflict. Peace is the manifestation of compassion. The Dalai Lama

When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace. Jimi Hendrix

To forgive is the highest, most beautiful form of love. In return, you will receive untold peace and happiness." -- Robert Muller

"If we want a world where peace is valued, we must teach ourselves to believe that peace is not a 'utopian vision' but a real responsibility that must be worked for each and every day in small and large ways. Any one of us can contribute to building a world where peace and justice prevail." ~Jody Williams, Nobel Co-Laureate and founding coordinator of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL)

Peace of mind produces right values, right values produce right thoughts. Right thoughts produce right actions and right actions produce work which will be a material reflection for others to see of the serenity at the center of it all. Robert M. Pirsig Writer

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