December 14

Mmmmmmmm.
Peace.


A few days ago, my choir and I performed a few songs at a meeting for the Northeast Minneapolis Alliance for Peace. The crowd was small, and they were all over the age of 60, I'd say. As we were singing "Imagine," I looked up and saw one of the women with her eyes closed, and a small smile on her face. A lot of the other people looked really happy, and some looked thoughtful. I'll be honest- a few weren't paying attention at all. When I looked around, I realized that was the clearest I had ever seen peace with my eyes. I watched the one lady throughout most of our songs- I watched her close and open her eyes, it seemed like she was letting these words of peace become a part of who she was- like she was breathing it all in and focusing on becoming peaceful. In watching her, I too, began to feel the words I was saying instead of just singing them. I wanted peace. I realize now, and after that night that peace comes from within. It shouldn't feel far away- it shouldn't be a far off goal as much as it is a way of living, and thinking.

Peace isn't about ending wars, or banning guns necessarily. Our people must work at becoming peace before we try to create it. You may say that I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one. I hope someday you'll join us and the world can live as ONE.