Practicing Peace and Understanding Amid Fear and Violence

Last updated on: April 15, 2013 at 6:24 pm by Kenn Gordon

Practicing Peace and Understanding Amid Fear and Violence 2013-04-15T18:24:49-06:00 Kenn Gordon

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Our blessings and our prayers go out to Boston today after, yet again, another senseless act of violence perpetrated on innocent people. I ask that each of us take a moment and pray for those afflicted, and once again, I ask that we pray for our world and our advancement into a peaceful unity and mature response to these heinous and destructive acts. It is obvious that the traditional responses that we as a world society have implemented for thousands of years have become, and possibly always were, both ineffective and counter-productive. Violence begets violence! The consciousness of vengeance is contagious. The motivation for much, if not all, of the violence we are experiencing is born from an inane and immature sense of revenge. The perpetrators are seeking revenge for the perceived injustices of their lives and when we react to their actions from a mind-set of vengeance we further feed the act.

The common-place violence that we currently are witnessing is a symptom of a much larger cause and the solution has not been found in our traditional way of handling it. It is time that we begin to look for deeper solutions, as opposed to falling back into our traditional response. So, I ask you to remain calm and clear, to practice understanding and love. This does not mean that we condone these inhumane acts, nor does it mean we allow them to go without penalty.

Centers for Spiritual Living believes that everything in our world begins with a thought, an attitude and a frame of mind. If we live in a violent society, reflecting the vengeance that initiated the act in the first place will do nothing to stop the violence. It may stop the current perpetrators, but it will not end future violence. It is up to us to be proactive and focus our attention on peace and respect for life. It is unrealistic to expect others to do it if we are not prepared to do it ourselves first. It is time that we face the bigger issue, and that is not just what humans will do to other humans but how tirelessly they will justify it.

A prayer for Boston, a prayer for ourselves

In this time of sorrow and shock, I consciously bring myself back from that which has occurred to the Divine place of recognition and clarity, understanding that this unskillful act perpetrated in Boston moves now beyond form to a place of unconditional wholeness and peaceful realization.

I banish any and all sense of retribution and vengeance and allow my mind to rest in the grace and understanding of peace and acceptance, knowing that every act and every action unfolds in Divinity for the highest and greatest good. Right here and right now, I invoke Truth to enter my being knowing that It abolishes fear and replaces it with faith, dissolves all sense of retribution and replaces it with love, dissipates all negative judgment and replaces it with understanding.

I know with certainty that goodness comes from this act and I surrender my need to know and understand and stand strong in my faith and optimism.

I surrender this back to Spirit, trusting and knowing that all that needs to heal, all that needs to be recognized, all that needs to be known, is done and present now.

I allow myself to live in this Truth.

And so It is.

Amen.

Uncategorized

Previous Post

April 1, 2013

Relatively Absolute

Next Post

April 22, 2013 A Living Idea

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Breath meditation Finding peace Spiritual Living Spirituality Uncategorized

Select a Month October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz