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"Blessed are they who
instead of trying to batter down the gates of the kingdom of heaven
approach them humbly and lovingly and purified, for they shall pass
right through"
Peace Pilgrim
A
time of Change in Peace Pilgrim Stewardship
(index)
Richard Polese and our other friends share the story
(mostly an extract from the Friends of Peace Pilgrim Newsletter, No.
40).
“A dedicated group of friends of Peace Pilgrim gathered again
at the Peace Pilgrim Center in June, a tradition and responsibility
repeated every year since Friends of Peace Pilgrim was formed in 1985.
We came to Somerset, California knowing that this was an especially
important time for us, the people who serve as directors of the Friends
of Peace Pilgrim non-profit organization. John and Ann Rush were preparing
to depart a few weeks later for their new home in New Hampshire. We
saw that many responsibilities that had been largely theirs were about
to pass to our collective hands. We all gladly accept our roles as humble
stewards of the activities that continue Peace’s message, as well
as stewards of the work done by John and Ann over the past two decades.
Cheryl Canfield, one of the five compilers of the Peace Pilgrim book
and author of a guide to living with Peace’s wisdom, was chosen
as new president of Friends of Peace Pilgrim. Ann received our honor
as President Emeritus, in recognition of her special role over the past
two decades. Bruce Nichols became treasurer of our group a few months
earlier, having taken on a role ably carried by John for many years.
Looking for a way to continue Peace’s work in the world, the five
compilers of Peace Pilgrim: Her Life and Work in Her Own Words,
had come together in California eighteen years ago to create our small
non-profit group of helpers. The compilers (Cheryl, Ann and John, Andy
Zubko, and myself) became the board of directors, a requirement of California
law. Jeff Blom, a long-time volunteer at the Peace Pilgrim Center in
Hemet, replaced Andy on the board when Andy moved on to new activities.
Two years ago we decided to expand our group to seven, bringing in both
Kathy Miller and Bruce.
Cheryl helped Peace with her “inspirational
and educational tours” of Alaska in 1979 and Hawaii in 1980. In
following years, she led the programs for Peace Pilgrim retreats on
the Green River and Lake Powell in Utah. Cheryl has authored two books
and is a wellness and life counselor today. She lives in Groveland,
California.
She comments, "I never imagined that those extraordinary times
with Peace, someone so vital and alive and vibrant, would come to such
an abrupt end. But they did. And in time I realized that she had left
behind a great gift. It was the reminder to look within. “Don’t
look to me. Look to your own inner teacher,” she would say. I
had understood intellectually, but it wasn’t until she was gone
that I really began to understand this important lesson. She had helped
me gain the courage to see life through my own eyes, and to trust my
inner voice."
Kathy has been closely connected to the
work of the Peace Pilgrim Center since 1998 and now oversees daily activities
at the Peace Pilgrim Center in Somerset, including supervising volunteers
and handling inquiries and requests from all over the world.
She writes for Enlace, “Being a full-time volunteer at the Peace
Pilgrim Center is a precious opportunity. I am especially enheartened
by people near and far who give me inspiration and encouragement. Avadhoot,
a long time friend of Peace Pilgrim who is affiliated with the Siddha
Yoga Meditation Center in New York sent me two books: “When Work
Becomes Service” (a publication of the SYDA Foundation) and “To
Lead is to Serve” by Shar McBee. The books arrived as I took on
the work of John and Ann Rush, who retired after 20 years of selfless
service. It was perfect timing to help me put my work into proper perspective.
The thoughts and actions of others who give support to Peace Pilgrim’s
message of inner peace are of benefit to the Peace Pilgrim Center. I
give heartfelt thanks for your love and affection. Grace, Peace and
Love.”
Richard manages production of the Friends
of Peace Pilgrim printed materials throughout the year. He lives in
Santa Fe, New Mexico, where the Friends of Peace Pilgrim journey began
and where the Peace Pilgrim book was compiled.
He tells us, “As Peace Pilgrim believed, we are all called to
serve the cause of peace and truth in unique ways. While everyone must
listen to his or her own “still, small voice within,” we
also receive inspiration and encouragement from one another, and always
from you!”
Jeff was the first person who brought the
world of computers to the Peace Pilgrim Center and was instrumental
in the publishing of the Peace Pilgrim book in Spanish and Russian during
his volunteered time in Hemet, California. Mayte worked with him in
the creation of the book in Spanish for three years. Jeff now operates
a publishing company and lives in San Diego, California.
Bruce developed and maintains the now fully
integrated Peace Pilgrim website. He also has been helping John and
Kathy with technical and record-keeping tasks. Bruce lives in Shelton,
Connecticut.
Last year, Bruce walked the 2000 miles of the Appalachian Trail. He
shares, “My last night on the trail was spent in an old log lean-to
about 15 miles north of Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. It had been built
in the early 1940’s and has sheltered hikers for most of the trail’s
existence. I had taken almost five million steps since leaving Springer
Mountain in Georgia; many along the same old wilderness paths that Peace
had walked 50 years before. As I lay on the warped and weathered boards
surrounded by the damp cool darkness of a rainy October night, I felt
very strongly that Peace Pilgrim had also stopped at this location while
on the trail in 1952. I was filled with an incredible sense of gratitude
for the great gifts that the Appalachian Trail had given me, for the
deep influence and inspiration that Peace has brought into my life,
and for her enduring legacy – a gift to us all.”
Peace Pilgrim Center
Somerset, California, USA
Anecdotes
from my Correspondence
(index)
By Mayte Picco-Kline
How, then, can we confront conflict
collaboratively?
Something that is important is to be ready and open to LISTEN to the
points of view of others, making a significant effort to UNDERSTAND their
ideas and motives.
To assure we understand the point of view of the other person, it is worth
while that we not yet evaluate what we are listening to, since when we
evaluate we see others opinions based on our own perceptions.
First, we can ask the other person:
- What do you think?
- How do you feel?
- What concerns you?
- How do you think this situation affects us?
- What are the critical points to resolve in this situation?
- Do we need to involve anyone else?
And truly listen to the answers with a firm desire to understand the
points of view and feelings of the other person.
It is also meaningful to make an effort to express our own thoughts and
feelings in the most objective and open way possible.
Once we believe we understand the point of view of the other person, we
can then concentrate on CLARIFYING those areas in which we agree and those
in which our opinions diverge. This summary causes both to focus on the
points being dealt with. These aspects help the communication to be clearer
and are important to advance the process.
The third step is to seek ALTERNATIVES together. When both persons have
this open attitude, of which we have spoken, this step is facilitated
a great deal. We must speak with a fervent desire to find a solution that
benefits everyone involved. The idea is for both parties to generate different
options in which everyone gains. With this in mind, generate as many alternatives
as possible, alternatives that all feel good about. In general this implies
including the desires of all participants for a common good.
The fourth step is to MAKE A DECISION... that is, to arrive at a satisfactory
agreement that includes all points of view and members of the group. A
story that is told frequently in seminars on negotiation is that of two
girls fighting for the same orange. Their mom finally intervenes and cuts
the orange in half. The first girl throws away the peel and eats the fruit...
The second girl throws away the fruit and uses the peel to make a cake.
If the two girls had collaborated they would have realized that beyond
the superficial conflict over the orange, they had complementary needs.
Both would have been able to have a double quantity of what they desired!
From this we see how important it is to clarify the motives and objectives
of each person. It is then, through a collaborative focus that we will
be able to solve conflicts and build a state of harmony.
Connected
to the Internet
(index)
Artistic
Expressions
(index)
Through moments of serene introspection
let Peace arise SUBLIME.”
Mayte Picco-Kline
Pennsylvania, USA
photograph
by Bruce Nichols
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Verse
of
Santa Teresa de Jesús
Nothing may disturb you
Nothing may frighten you
Everything comes to pass
God is always there.
Patience
accomplishes all
He who is with God
has it all.
God is enough.
Two of our friends sent the same selection!
Sister Magdalena de Jesús, Talca, Chile
Guillermo Calderón, México, D.F.
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| "You can only give that which is learned with
the soul, to give that which is learned with the soul contributes
to the equilibrium in the cosmos."
Anonymous
Shared by Néstor Hugo Almagro
Mendoza, Argentina“Love transforms us into higher beings,
awakens our capacity for amazement, gives us sensitivity for contemplation,
propels us to infinite levels, gives us the force to travel through
life with an invincible spirit and prompts us to reach for the impossible.”
Sent by Jenny Novakovic to Héctor Kuri
Montreal, Canada |
Stitches
of Love
By Mayte Picco-Kline
SERVICE creates a sense of contribution to the good of
the whole. At an Art and Craft Show in York, Pennsylvania in the United
States I met two ladies, 77 and 76 years of age, filled with life and
enthusiasm. As we entered in conversation I learned that in 1999 as
a result of her daughter's adoption of a first child from Russia, Betty
Hoke decided to knit sweaters for the children still at the boy’s
former orphanage.
Her first goal was 15 sweaters. As time progressed her project has expanded
to seven ladies who belong to the same church and join together to knit,
all delighted to dedicate their lives to GIVE and share as best as possible
the fruits of their skills. Hundreds of sweaters, booties, baby blankets,
mittens, scarves and hats have been made and sent to those who thanks
to their contribution will spend a warm winter in Nepal, Russia, Ukraine,
Madagascar, Kenya, India, Ecuador, Rumania, México and the United
States.
Betty shared with a big smile and grand sense of fulfillment: "We
call our project Stitches of Love!" They recently received a letter
of appreciation: "Your angelic work or knitting works of art has
made many people very happy. This year you blessed us with enough sweaters,
scarves and hats that we were able to share some with needy day care
children, and some with our senior citizens who could not afford Christmas
gifts for their grandchildren. They were thrilled and marvelled at the
beauty you create."
A sharing of the heart creates everlasting JOY-full LIFE.
Contact
Network
(index)
Others wishing to correspond with Friends of Peace Pilgrim.
“Please announce me in Internet and Newsletters
as a Peace Pilgrim and contact for Central America and Europe, mentioning
that I speak English, German, Romanian and Spanish.”
Address #1:
Valentín Paz
Lista de Correos
San Pedro de la Laguna, Solola Department
Guatemala, América Central
email: valentinpeace@hotmail.com |
Address #2:
For Valentin (mail only)
c/o Vasilescu Ion Family
Traian STR. 248, Bl. 30 B, SC. A, Apt. 15, Sector 2
02624 Bucharest, Romania, Europe |
“I intend on forming a Brazilian group dedicated
to the search of peace. I would like to be in contact with others who
are involved in the search for peace in my country.”
Ana Maria Feijó: anafeijo@terra.com.br
Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
Sabian
Corner
(index)
The
way to start is to start
Every new start if made in the light of our underlying creative
spiritual purpose will strengthen our potentiality for absolute
spiritual spontaneity.
Affirmation for Health
My outer being is reborn within.
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Baghdad
Children's Home
The Beloved Community led by James Twyman is in the process
of establishing a center in Baghdad to serve the needs of the thousands
of children that have been left orphaned by the war. James shares, “I
believe that one of the most important things any of us can do at this
critical time is to find effective ways to serve humanity, and to promote
ways of spreading compassion and peace wherever we can.”
The center will be part of the new program called "The Reconciliation
Project," which will train volunteers to serve the needs of abandoned
children in countries that have been impacted by violence. The project
will be an extension of the Seminary of Spiritual Peacemaking.
A team of peacemakers travelled to Baghdad to establish the center.
They are renting at least one large house that will be fitted with many
beds and all the supplies needed to serve the children for one year.
Then they will welcome the children to a safe place where they can rest
and heal.
This is just the first of many children centers they intend to build
around the world.
Welcome
(index)
A
warm welcome to our newest friends in the Enlace Internacional
circle: Valentín Otto, Guatemala and Rumania; Henrik Goebel,
Georgia McCune, Linn McCune, Gloria Salas and Mariflor Molina United
States; Cristian Polanco, Dominican Republic; Ana María Feijó,
Brasil and Frank Harper.
Reflections
(index)
(Participate
in this section by selecting a phrase or sentence from the Peace Pilgrim
materials. Please indicate source and page.)
 I
have faith that God will take care of me, God covers my needs.
{Hna. Magdalena de Jesús, Chile}
Question: What is ‘the spiritual life’ ?
That which cannot be perceived by the five senses. Spiritual things
will last, physical things will not. {Zoraida Consuegra, United
States}
God considers me, to this speck of dust, so much that he sends me only
the problems necessary to be able to grow. {SFC, Argentina}
A criterion exists by which you can judge if the thoughts you have and
the things you are doing are correct for you. The criterion is, have
they brought you inner peace? If not, continue trying. {Emilia Kuri,
México}
Blessed are they who give without expecting even thanks in return, for
they shall be abundantly rewarded. {Silvia R. Crespo, Argentina}
Nothing happens by chance in our universe. All is revealed according
to the highest laws – all is regulated by divine order. {Mayte
Picco-Kline, United States}
Favorite Quotes
Life is a mixture of successes and failures. Be encouraged by the successes
and fortified by the failures. As you never lose faith in God, you will
be victorious before any situation you may face. {David Saldivar
Aguilar, Cuba; Mario Mosquera, United States; Pedro M. Roblejo Ramos,
Cuba}
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