At some point in time, everyone has to come to grip with the 
realization that we are merely participants in the great event 
known as life.  In the end, we all wind up the same.  All of 
the power or wealth accumulated through a lifetime cannot
change the fact that we will not leave this world alive.  What we
each have to realize is that neither the color of our skin nor
the place of our birth has any bearing what so ever on the
eternity that takes place after our departure.  What will have a
bearing on that very eternity is how we treat the other members
of our human community.  Our children will learn from our efforts.  
Our friends and neighbors will be affected by the example that we 
set.  The world will be a better place for every one to live in 
as a result of our compassion and empathy and how we relate those 
feelings to the world.

We must learn to respect life.  We must teach our children
this respect.  The first step is learning to respect ourselves. 
At some point, each living thing was a single cell.  By a process
so incredible that it is near impossible to comprehend, the cell
grows and matures and becomes an entity unto itself.  And whether
it is a human being, a puppy dog, or a blue whale, it is a life
form.  Start by respecting the process.  It is incredible.  Then
consider that it is the same process that brings us paupers and
kings.     

Take a moment and think of what the three most important
words are to you.  Think about the category those words fit into. 
I felt my life change when the words that meant the most to me
Were discovered to be "love, peace, and forgiveness".  I have 
not yet forgiven everybody who I need to forgive, but it will 
come in time.  And there are times when I forget what is important 
and then I need to be forgiven.  That is the human condition.

The Talmud says that if you offend someone it is your
obligation to make a sincere apology and ask for forgiveness.  If
you are not forgiven, you have an obligation to approach the
person that has been offended at least twice more.  Unless the
offense was so terrible or caused irrevocable harm, the offended
party is obligated to find it in their heart to forgive you.  To
not do so is considered cruel.  

The act of forgiving is an act of healing.  It is cleansing. 
There is no need to carry around the baggage that goes with
holding a grudge.  Thoughtless acts and thoughtless deeds can
cause great pain and torment.  Not being able to find forgiveness
in your heart just prolongs the agony.

The bottom line however, is easy to define, once you agree
on your own personal priorities.  I don't want to have to send my
children or any one else's children off to war.  I don't want to
be judged by my religion, nationality, or color.  If my brother
is in pain, I want to be able to help him.  And I want to be able
to consider every human being as my brother.   

It is so easy to say "I could not possibly make a difference."  
In fact, each person has the potential to make a tremendous 
difference.  Every individual action taken by one human being 
will relate in some manner to another human being. 

And every individual has a choice on what action to take.  Even
"doing nothing" is a choice.  It is an acceptance of a situation
in which you could have done something.  Possibly, the action you
could have selected would be futile.  For instance, writing a
letter to your congressman objecting to his or her vote on a
particular matter before the legislature.  It is very possible
that you will be the only person to express that feeling, and
certainly, that would be futile.  But what if ten thousand
constituents wrote similar letters of disapproval?  And what if
this was not an organized drive but merely the expression of the
"man on the street?"  Can you imagine an elected official not
sitting up and taking notice?

The fact is, we can each make a significant difference, but
only if we care.  Take the time to examine the issues.  This
could mean as little as simply reading the newspaper on a daily
basis.  Stop and think about what you have read.  Form an
opinion.  Discuss these opinions with your family and friends. 
Take an interest in what is happening in your community.  Let
your public officials know when you are not happy with their
actions.  Don't allow the world to revolve around you without
noticing what is going on.

Does this sound like a lot of work?  Well, it is and it
isn't.  First of all, you won't feel as strongly about every
issue as you do about some of the issues.  Focus on those issues
that really affect you.  Don't ignore everything else, but make
an attempt to learn more about what is going on with regard to
those issues that are most important to you.  Take a position. 
Defend your position.  Support your position.  Contribute some of
your money and your time.  You will be amazed at how much can be
done if only a small number of like minded citizens take a
uniform stand on an relevant issue.  

In order for peace to remain as a constant in all of our
lives, we each have to adopt it as a very high priority.  Don't
wait for someone else to do it.  Make your own decision now.  And
as each person sees the need to make this choice, peace will
spread throughout the world.  We may never see the day when the
world is "at peace", but there is no reason that we cannot live
out our days with our own personal peace.
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