Should we bother about the UN’s International Day of Peace today?

Mahalia replied:

It's your soul speaking and you don't even know that it is there.

Well, are we aware of our soul - that subtle voice that whispers softly 'there shall be peace on earth and let it begin with me'?

The International Day of Peace is a clarion call to us all to start to listen right now and work together for peace.

People everywhere in the world have the common enemies of the Covid 19 Pandemic, and the increasingly catastrophic Global Warming that threatens to make life unliveable for humans.

Will we therefore stop fighting one another and unite to save lives everywhere and our planet?

The UN is asking us today to 'transform our world into one that is more equal, more just, equitable, inclusive, sustainable, and healthier. The pandemic is known for hitting the underprivileged and marginalized groups the hardest. By April 2021, over 687 million COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered globally, but over 100 countries have not received a single dose. People caught in conflict are especially vulnerable in terms of lack of access to healthcare. In line with the Secretary-General's appeal for a global ceasefire last March, in February 2021 the Security Council unanimously passed a resolution calling for Member States to support a "sustained humanitarian pause" to local conflicts. The global ceasefire must continue to be honoured, to ensure people caught in conflict have access to lifesaving vaccinations and treatments.

I am a member of the Blue Mountains Interfaith Group that attempts to bring all people together who believe that spiritual awakening is foundational for lasting inner and international peace. Today we are doing a Zoom presentation to pay tribute to the International Day of Peace.

The following is my contribution to this presentation.

I pray daily for inner and world peace through a personal relationship with a spiritual Supreme Being greater than ourselves that charges us with love and inner peace, inspiring us to a commitment to try to love others as ourselves, including the least of our brothers, sisters and even our enemies.

Spiritual disciplines aim to transform our identity from restless materialism-trapped ego-centrism to a spiritual identity that seeks to serve all beings peacefully with love.

Enough of us embracing such spiritual identity may form the basis for lasting inner and international peace.

This is my prayer:

I thank you God with all my heart with all my soul with all my mind.
I love you God with all my life for you love me first with all your might.
So help me God will you teach me to love my neighbour as me
To love my enemy like you love me
Even my worst enemy who's always me.

Soli Deo Gloria, alone yours' all glory hallelujah
Servus Servorum Domini oh let me be, oh let me be
The servant of your servants Almighty
Oh let me be, oh let me be.

Give us our daily bread the world over, let there be peace on earth forever
Let there be peace on earth everywhere, give us our daily bread the world over.

Shanti, Shanti, Shalom – May peace be with us all. Amen.