Reconciliation

Thanksgiving was last week and oh what a wonderful day! For the past three years we have joined our cherished longtime family friends for the celebration. They are some of the most positive people on the planet! Honestly--I have never been with them and not left feeling 100% more joyful and more enthusiastic about living!
This year, their son, who is a very spiritual man, stood up in the middle of the meal and spoke. He talked of his recent participation at a gathering of Native American tribes in a ritual of reconciliation. Wanting to re-create some of the beauty of that day, he asked if we would join him in a group meditation and prayer for reconciliation.
Each of us was to spend one minute holding a vision in our mind of what reconciliation on the planet means to us. In silence we sat, and created a moment of peace and magic together.
Each was then invited to share. Some held visions of particular people who represent compassion, others spoke of envisioning war torn areas being filled with only the sounds of life, not bombs, only vibrant, joyful life. One spoke of witnessing the intensity of sport competition being followed by friendship and camaraderie among the competitors. My vision was one of people embracing and feeding one another. I also had a vision of all people holding hands in a circle around the earth.
As everyone shared, there was a palpable energy of love and peace created that we all intentionally sent out into the world. It was a simple thing really, but very powerful.
In the days that have followed Thanksgiving, I've reflected on reconciliation and what it means in my own life. What I'm realizing is that each of us influences peace on the planet by first reconciling with those around us in our own little worlds. Healing, forgiveness, tenderness and peace right where we are. We can all start creating peace here in this moment with our friends, co-workers, and family members. As the song states, "Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me." It may seem cliche, yet sometimes we forget that we really can have a positive effect on the planet by healing our own lives and finding peace with those around us.
May peace and healing flow into your life. And may we see the ripple effect bring peace to all the people of the world.