Peace in the Middle East?

The only time I ever knew political fear on a national level was when my son was in elementary school. That morning my husband called from work and asked, "Have you turned on the TV?" I ran to the television set as he continued, "I just heard on the radio that the United States is under attack!" 

It seemed ridiculous. The U.S. under attack? How was this possible? But we were. 

For the first and only time in my life, I felt vulnerable and fearful, easily reached with no place to hide. Parents were rushing over to schools to collect their children, in our city and cities all over the country. Bear in mind that the events were unfolding in New York, Philadelphia and Washington.

That didn't matter to me. It felt like it was in my own backyard. Right here in South Florida. 

September 11, 2001 changed the idea that the United States was impenetrable and a safe haven, protecting us from those who wished to bring us harm.

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It is frightening and disturbing. It denies every individual peace of mind, and relegates hope to a completely different realm - an unfathomable hinterland - when one considers the complexities of hate and terrorism.

Yet, my fear is on a separate level. I live in the United States of America. Prior to the States I lived in Canada, where I was born and raised. In other words, a fairly peaceful existence. A co-existence of many different people.

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Peace.

Will it ever happen in the Middle East as long as there exists a we and a them? Will there ever be a mirrored reflection of both sides as one? The absurd polarity of it is this – exchange sides and we become them and they become us. We are all interchangeable. We will never know peace until both sides recognize that we are, all of us, God's children.

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"KILL THEM ALL A GOOD MUZZY IS A DEAD MUZZY" is a comment posted on a friend's Facebook page July 8, 2014. I take serious exception to this kind of rant. Remember, turn the tables and that is what is being said of the Israelis by ignorant, terrorist radicals who have no concept of acceptance, tolerance, peace or love. Until the masses have an understanding that radical terrorists of a race or religion do not reflect nor represent all of their people, there will continue to be this insane behavior and attempted annihilation of an innocent group of people. Judging all because of a few has never bode well.

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The Israelis have only seconds before incoming missiles hit any number of targets. The Iron Dome launches rockets that have intercepted many medium and long range rockets, but not all. The Israelis live under constant fear, stressed for the safety of their children and their own lives.

Does this mean that one's comment, as noted above, is legitimate? Wouldn't it be better to work towards raising the bar, rather than sinking to the lowest common denominator?

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How can this be done? 

I wish I had the answer.

Will there ever be peace in the Middle East? 

I wish I knew, and that the answer was a globally resounding YES!

What can any of us do about this sad and disturbing episodic travesty? 

Let us pray for enlightenment. Let us meditate for morality and human consciousness. Let us vow not to turn into hate mongers. Let us continue to differentiate right from wrong and remain on the elevated side of right.

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May the Middle East know peace, now, in our time.  Amen.

© 2014 Deborah Desser

Peace

Where can I find a little peace? is not an uncommon query. We hear it, we say it, we believe it.

The truth of the matter is, peace is everywhere, when it is planted in the mind, heart, soul and spirit. When we pay attention to our thoughts, listen to our breathing, become mindful of our practices and acknowledge our blessings, peace forms and grows.

As peace grows in our minds, it takes hold in our surroundings and situations, spreading roots, bearing new green shoots of optimism, love, happiness.

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

"Nobody can bring you peace but yourself."—Ralph Waldo Emerson 

"Peace is its own reward."—Mahatma Gandhi 

"The real and lasting victories are those of peace, and not war."
—Ralph Waldo Emerson 

"If you want peace, you don't talk to your friends. You talk to your enemies."—Desmond Tutu

Peace be within you.

The Road to ? Is Paved with Good Intentions and Commitment, or How Emotional Release is Exhilirating!

Good feelings abound as holidays and special occasions take place, only to dissipate once the calendar page is torn away. What does this mean? Basically that holidays come with more than festivities - they come with good intentions, too. And lots of emotions.

Let's take a look at the following, well-known holidays and what transpires before, during and after:

• New Year's Eve. Leading up to it we feel anticipation, excitement at the opportunity for a brand new start. During the evening we revel and speak of new beginnings - resolutions that will turn our lives around. The change is generally short-lived as, after New Year's Day, we feel the let down of the momentum and the reality that change takes place when we make a commitment to our emotions and intentions.
• St. Valentine's Day. Leading up to it we feel excited about love - having it, looking for it or finding it. We're convinced that our soul mate will manifest in response to our heart's wish and our mind's good thoughts. We assure ourselves that we will proactively participate in our relationship or open ourselves up to love, hence receiving our true love. Afterward, when the last petal falls off the delicate rose, we are left with no observable difference in our life because the momentum left and we did not commit to our emotions or intentions.
• Independence Day. Leading up to it we feel an enormous pride in our nation, community, family and those serving on our behalf. We buy the red, white and blue plates, cups and napkins, purchase colorful fireworks and go to town having a good time in recognition of our country's past, present and future. We vow to undertake duties not taken before, and participate in events that support our nation. What happens a day later is back to what is in front of our noses - no more, no less. The passion, pride and momentum falls off abruptly as the red, white and blue garlands are packed away; emotions and intentions packed away with the decorations.

The same goes for Thanksgiving, Chanukah, Christmas, Kwanzaa and personal celebrations.

The point is, emotions and ideals, of what we should be doing in the big picture and for the greater good, is short lived when it is based on sensory emotions: seeing the hustle and bustle leading up to a big holiday, hearing the associated music, smelling the special holiday foods and, of course, tasting them. The holidays play on our emotions like violin music in a romantic drama.

There is no way that the intent to commit to the moment will last. It's like walking out of the movie theater, eyes red from crying, and twenty minutes later chomping on a smoked meat sandwich with your friends, laughing at one of their inane comments.

Now, there is no right or wrong here. Just like having a good cry after a sad movie (or a laugh after a particularly funny one) is good for the soul, so are the holidays, and the emotions they evoke.

On the other hand, if you don't want it to be short-lived and disappear in a puff of smoke, try drafting a map for yourself. The greatest journeys have all started with one little step. This blog is more about having options and fulfilling your own personal needs than it is about redirecting. We all love to be the directors of our own movie. This is one way of looking at two possibilities during the year's many holidays and special occasions.

Emotional release and personal change are both good things. Be open to either.

The

World

is

Yours.

Tick – Tick – Tick

Watching the World Population Clock I witnessed 40 births documented within a span of 10 seconds.
It was estimated, March 1, 2007, that by the year 2050 there would be 7.3 to 10.7 billion people on earth. Our planet's population is currently at over 7.230 billion, and it's only 2014.
Life is doubling, tripling, expanding at a rate never imagined. Mother Earth has a heavy load, and as the world's population expands and (figuratively) explodes (or is it literally?) the collective consciousness is becoming more aware and questioning what life is, what comes after life, and is this the only life?
If you think this is the only life, consider this: after an egg is laid, a larva forms and a caterpillar is born, after which the pupa (or chrysalis) emerges as a butterfly. The life cycle of the butterfly takes on many forms and never ends. From egg to larva, caterpillar to butterfly, and egg once more, the cycle continues.
The World Population Clock documents births and deaths – the growth of earth's inhabitants surpasses deaths by more than two times.
And if you know that energy is never extinguished, it only takes on other forms, eg. ice, water, steam, and you understand the life cycle of the butterfly, where do you suppose our energy (soul, spirit, life force) goes? Where does it end up – and does it ever end?
Speculation as to life after death, reincarnation and a higher consciousness that never needs to return to the cycle of life, is ongoing. The greatest minds, and most inquisitive and creative thinkers, still cannot conclusively determine what goes on after our flame has been extinguished.
Yet we know that the energy is never extinguished, and it is for this reason that we may want to focus on our eternal energy that is a continuum, linking from past lives and situations to more positive experiences that build to a point where energy is pure.

Like stacking blocks, lower ones are bigger and more cumbersome supporting a size less massive, lighter and higher - reaching toward the sky. Can this be a model for our life force? Is our own personal evolution moving toward a time where we need never to return to physical form, only a mind – consciousness with no body, floating on the thin air between galaxies?
Speculation, interpretation, creative thinking and evolution, both of the mind and the physical form, have not been able to arrive at a final conclusion.
What we may wish to figure out is how to become lighter, higher more evolved to the point at which we mingle with the souls of our past and float forever in the vast universe.
Is this the goal – heaven – panacea for the many lives we've lived? Maybe it's time we started thinking about it.
The clock is tick – tick – ticking.

I Cross a Stream, I Have a Dream

Do you think you could jump from a second story window into a large body of water below? How about if there was a raging fire starting to burn through the door, and leaping off the ledge was the only possible way out of the room?

Thank goodness most of us will never be faced with a life or death situation such as this, however, every day hundreds of thousands of individuals deal with overwhelming situations that call for action and they find that they cannot make the transition. They're afraid to jump, yet to remain means to get badly burned, or worse. Rooted to the spot where they stand because of emotional paralysis, a fear based behavior, the ability to move forward evades them, and the deadly flames engulf them.

The flames can represent almost anything – a rotten business deal, a marriage gone bad, unhappiness with your choice of college major, or experiencing buyers' remorse.

Too many stay in their bad deal, allowing the flames to lick higher and higher, causing profuse sweating, blistering and pain as the fire overtakes them and snuffs out their lives. It's heart-wrenching, when all they had to do was take a leap of faith into the cool, life-saving water below.

What's scarier is the fact that most of these decisions are not life or death situations – they're decisions that end up being either right or wrong for you, but death will not ensue. Action was never taken to find out.

To reach your dreams and realize them in a big way, it takes more for some and less for others. Some people are looking for the next challenge in all aspects of their lives. And many shy away from the decision-making that can lead them to greener pastures (or failure). Now you might think that if they knew that there would be greener pastures and no failure, they would take the leap of faith but surprisingly, the idea of making a choice is just as difficult for a guaranteed good outcome than not.

Fear of the unknown prevents many from having a full, well-rounded life. Afraid to travel, commit to a partner or job or move to a new city keeps these individuals in a pretty monotonous life.

In Abba's hit, I Have a Dream, the lyrics are simple but evocative of a deeper belief system:

I have a dream, a song to sing
To help me cope with anything
If you see the wonder of a fairy tale
You can take the future even if you fail
I believe in angels
Something good in everything I see
I believe in angels
When I know the time is right for me
I'll cross the stream, I have a dream

I have a dream, a fantasy
To help me through reality
And my destination makes it worth the while
Pushing through the darkness still another mile
I believe in angels
Something good in everything I see
I believe in angels
When I know the time is right for me
I'll cross the stream, I have a dream
I'll cross the stream, I have a dream

The line, "Something good in everything I see," is extremely important, as it underlines the concept that all experiences are valuable. Shutting out decision making because of fear of the outcome is shutting out life.

Change your college major, try a new job, ask the young lady with the pretty smile to join you for a cup of coffee, book tickets for an adventure. Start living life. The worst that can happen? You add another experience to your list. Perhaps you do find what you were looking for. Until you open your eyes, mind and heart, you will never know.

Mergers Under Pressure

If you could write your own story, predetermine your life, what would it be? What would you be: teacher, astronaut, philanthropist, pilot, surgeon, author or artist? Would your story be without controversy or drama, pain free, fearless and inspiring - void of anything unsettling - perfect on every level and in every way?

The thing about stories is everyone has one. While we are living our stories, others are living theirs. We cannot control anybody else - what, why or how they feel or what they do. It makes sense then that regardless if we had a genie ready to grant us any wish, our wish would not necessarily turn out the way we envisioned it. It couldn't. There is an indeterminate amount of varying factors reliant on other people's stories.

Because it is impossible for our story to exist apart from an others story, we are destined to be dependent upon others lives and actions. A hermit living deep within the hills with no neighbors for miles shares the ripple effects of unrelated events. The hermit may become sick from a crop duster flying off course or be charged by an injured animal hit by a hunter's less than perfect shot. He may find himself host to a lost camper or receiver of a balloon with a message that pierces his heart with emotion. Each episode of life interacts with our own. We live in a never ending, continuously enlarging web of connections, whether we like it or not; whether we want it or not; whether we acknowledge it or not, other people's lives evolve and involve us.


Brace Yourself
When stories merge, they create other stories. Brangelina (Brad and Angelina) are living proof! They merged and have the offspring to prove it. Closer to home, we also meet our mates, procreate and build families. Trees drop seeds and create larger forests. On every level, it's the natural progression of all living things. It's not only about procreation, though. Businesses merge and forge new affiliations. Children join together at the beginning of each new school year and build new relationships with fellow classmates. Athletes come together and form teams. Workers form unions. Mergers are ongoing.

Mergers with No Acquisitions
Stories, events, happenings, situations - good, bad, or otherwise - take place whether you sequester yourself or socialize in a big way. Since this is the case, it would make sense that we would want to have our stories merge with good stories, positive energy and people who can relate to our initiatives and visions. These other people want, hope for and expect the same of us. How can we do this and guarantee that the merger is a good one?

If there were guarantees, there would be no divorce, mistreated children, seniors or animals, no spousal abuse, no hunger and no pain. Businesses would only flourish and have positive cash flow. How can we create resplendent mergers, vital connections and live the life we know we were divinely meant to live?

Know thyself. Know what you seek. Know that every thought, word and action is going to interact with an others, consequently impacting your own life as well as theirs. There aren't acquisitions to be made. There are mutually beneficial, synchronous relationships ready to take off.

To repeat: we are destined to be dependent upon others lives and actions. Therefore, they are also dependent on our lives and actions. If every path that we cross is reflective of our own behaviors, it would make sense that the value we place on our own happiness and fulfillment needs to be placed on every other person's life. Our great stories and successes are dependent on every connection we make.

When we collide we create upheaval, when we merge we create unity. If we do end up colliding from time to time, let us hope that they are of stellar proportions, eventually merging into an even larger star.

Have a listen to David Bowie and Freddie Mercury perform Under Pressure.

Dear 2014,

I'd like to take this opportunity to welcome you, but also to let you know there's a lot riding on your shoulders. As 2013's replacement, you should be aware that it is not an easy road ahead. There were many events in 2013 that grabbed the world's attention, most of which were sad, unwarranted, unnecessary.

True, over-the-top business deals took place: Yahoo purchased Tumblr for 1.1 billion and Microsoft nabbed Nokia for 7.2 billion, as well as the China Moon Rover moon landing; but what took place in between was sadness, destruction and devastation as death, natural disasters and terrorism reigned. The list is too long and too negative to bear reporting. It makes the heart heavy.

2014, please sit up and take note of what is not only expected of you but needed of you.

We, the people, need to know that the next 12 months will be better. We are a sturdy lot - we don't expect to have anything handed to us, but we are in dire need of more of the good stuff. More love, laughter, balance, passion, healthy challenges, the arts, civilization, enlightenment, divinity, gratitude, empathy, more healing among the masses; and peace.

Above all, peace.

No more harboring resentment, anger, accusations, ridicule, bullying, egos out of whack, cynicism, complacency, violence, needless words and hapless deeds. No more. No more. Pray thee, no more.

We're not sugar-coating your role. It is a tough job and you will hear many people's wrath as your term winds down. However, should you ride the winds of moral change and reveal fairer skies; should you place greater emphasis on kindness over final say, and mentor those who have no idea, who are clueless in matters of the heart (loving themselves, their families and strangers), you will go down in history as the greatest year yet.

Take this opportunity to be supreme. Take this challenge to lead the world in a different, more loving direction. Consider your term your legacy. Be the best year yet. We're counting on you.

With all sincerity and hope,