Seeking Peace, Meditating, and Prayer waking upon a newly repaired Sidewalk

Dear Family of Love,

This morning I joined the Global Meditation for Peace at 9:00 a.m. online with Deepak Chopra and the people of Unify, The Chopra Center, and 1 Giant Mind and well over 100, 000 people around the world meditating for peace. It was amazing, Deepak Chopra took us through a guided meditation similar to what we have been doing. His first part was to get us to find peace at the center with the following four  words: Peace, Harmony, Laughter, and Love. and then with the mantra Shanti which means
 [" : in Sanskrit ‘be calm’ means peace, rest, calmness, tranquility, or bliss.
The poet T. S. Eliot, in his poem The Waste Land (where he spelled it Shantih) translated it as "The Peace which passeth understanding"
In Sanskrit
Inner peace, refers to a state of being mentally and spiritually at peace, with enough knowledge and understanding to keep oneself strong in the face of discord or stress] From Wikipedia 
 This continues to be part of our time together. We all need to find peace at the center in order to make peace with our broken world.. Tonight it was easy to prayer walk upon a freshly repaired sidewalk although it takes us away from being mindful.  We need to practice meditation because it is very healthy and will help us with all kinds of stresses and the like. 

A word about what is happening in God's broken world.

Every time we wake up or turn on the news we find it depressing and not at all positive. As much as we try we can't turn our faces away from the violence, degradation, and oppression lodged at God's Children. I'm trying to do a news fast  and  not have it on continually every day. We must take time to be informed but we also must find balance interspersed with prayer and quiet time. I also suggest that we write our elected leaders if we are called to do so. Turning or faces away is cowardly. Turning on our hearts, opening our eyes, active listening, and speaking out takes courage and strength. That is what we must do to affect change and bring peace to the world. 

Tonight we will take time to find peace at the center: 
Please take out your timer or listen to this: Windham Hill - The Impressionists or if Taize is your speed here is Taize Mix :

 As you begin please take a few deep breaths ( inhale through your nose and exhale through your mouth) Think of these words ; Peace, harmony, laughter, love and when you feel relaxed. begin to reflect on this day, start laying down and letting go of those burdens that are heavy, then begin to ask yourself what can I do to make peace in my community and the world?  How can I show love to my enemies and those whom I disagree? Ask God to help.

Let us take time to pray the prayer of St. Francis:

The Prayer of Saint Francis
Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
Where there is sadness, joy.

O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
To be consoled as to console,
To be understood as to understand,
To be loved as to love;
For it is in giving that we receive;
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
It is in dying to self that we are born to eternal life.

and we add the Beatitudes

The Beatitudes : Matthew 5

He said:

3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit,
    for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn,
    for they will be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek,
    for they will inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
    for they will be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful,
    for they will be shown mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart,
    for they will see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers,
    for they will be called children of God.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
    for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

We pray these prayers and add our own in the silence of our hearts and at the depths of our hearts and in our souls. Lord Jesus, we pray for peace and ask you to give us strength to love, make peace, and be your light. All this we ask in your Name Lord Christ. Amen.

+++++
Good Night Dearly Loved Loved Ones! I love you. My prayer for us this night is that we may find rest and be able to wake up relaxed, refreshed, renewed, and rested. and not to fear going to the opposite side of the lake to rest and pray and be alone and find peace at the center. 

With love, peace, prayers, and blessings,

Sara