Peace on Earth

P E A C E -- What a beautiful word, and what a confusing one. Does it mean the cessation of a war, or a peaceful meeting of the Colorado Legislature? Does it mean public security and order, as in "an arrest for disturbing the peace? Or does it mean peace of mind and spirit? Actually, it means all of them.

But the first dictionary definition of peace, and the most common one of peace is "the absence of war or other hostilities."

I don't pretend to know the answers, but I have some questions about the problems of achieving world peace in the brand new 2007 or any other year. what would you be willing to do to achieve peace?

Which is discussed more often by you and others, peace or war?

Would you be willing to pay a peace tax?

Would you be willing to consider patriotism, not a military word, but a quiet love of country and willingness t work for peace instead of war?

Enough questions. Are there any answers?

It is very hard, if not impossible, to find a time in the history of the world when there was been an absence of war some place the planet.

People have been fighting with each other since the days of the cave man and humans continue to hurt each other. As we grow technologically more sophisticated, the weapons of war grow more deadly -- from rocks to atomic bombs.

There has to be an answer. I do believe that we must find a way to achieve world peace before we destroy our planet. Ultimately the answer lies in the cause of war.

My favorite minister, Mike Burr, says that, "The real tyranny in our world is hunger, ignorance and despair. They lead people to desperate acts. When there is no hope they are willing to choose suicide over living in despair."

Tyranny is born.

I hope that both the Conservative Christians and the Main Line Christians would agree that Jesus was the first real peace keeper.

In recent years such men as Mahatma Ghandi and Martin Luther King have fought the good fight for peace but without violence. Ex-President Jimmy Carter has spent his retirement years working for peace. His latest book, "Palestine, Peace or Apartheid?" is an excellent book on the subject of ultimate peace.

I asked one of my breakfast companions whether there is such a thing as peace. Without a pause she answered, "Yes." "Where is it??" I asked. "Here," she said putting her hands on her heart.

And that, I think, is the real answer. Peace of mind, peace of spirit peace within each of us. How can we find peace in the world if we can't find it in ourselves?

I know I am being unrealistic, but my wish for 2007 is that the people of the world will think a little less about war and a little more about peace.