Many people believe Peace begins within us. In my practice, Peacemaking — both public and private — is also about living what we believe and making it real in the world. Peace grows outward. It ripples in a Pond, spreading ever outward to include the world.
My inner Peace ripples out from my actions in the world, beginning with my neighborhood and my community. Building good neighbors and strong, inclusive neighborhoods are huge steps toward Peacemaking. My town has about 4,000 people, which makes some of this easy. We can greet the people next door and notice who might need a hand. Recently, a friend and I were out to dinner when a woman we knew from public life came in alone. It took only a moment to invite her to join us. She was preparing for a meeting and needed to focus, but the invitation mattered. It was an opportunity to practice Peace, to be deliberately kind, to tend the relationships of our daily lives. This is Peace at its most intimate scale — the Peace we make with our own hands, hearts, words, and actions.
This summer, I was privileged to travel far and wide across the country. The Land taught me so much. After weeks on the plains, I wondered how I would feel returning to the hilly, green forests of home. The moment I crossed the border into Pennsylvania, I felt the familiar deep exhale, followed by the equally deep inhale. It happened again when we finished at a favorite ice cream stand at the end of the trip. At home, after a month and a half absence, my garden had exploded into shades of green — some planted, some volunteers. I could feel the roots enfold me, steady me. Being a good neighbor comes naturally to me in this place. Living in Peace means embracing the Land, the River, and the community of Home — and tending them.
An older couple who were part of this neighborhood’s bedrock for decades have just sold their house. Who knows who will move in? Because this is my home, I am responsible for welcoming. After nearly 25 years here, I know where things are and which organizations do what. A welcome includes more than “glad you’re here.” It includes an invitation to become part of this community. Invitations matter, but they only bloom when the people receiving them are able to receive them and ready to act on them. Civic Peace strengthens as more people are welcomed to participate. There are so many ways to engage and become treasured members of a community. How are you involved? In what ways have you invited others to join the community?
As we strengthen our community bonds, it becomes easier to recognize other communities as they prosper and struggle. Watching other towns succeed, we can wonder whether their accomplishments have lessons for us. When we see them struggling, connection makes generosity easier. Support can come through official channels, but it also grows from shared experience and understanding. Peace has no shortage of ways to make itself known. We need imagination — and the will to be Peacemakers. How are you a Peacemaker in your community? What other styles of Peacemaking do you see around you? Experiment. Find your Peacemaker strength and generosity. Taylor Lightman, formerly head of Lewisburg Neighborhoods, once asked, “How do we lead the world from our small town?” Curiosity and Generosity are great ways to start.
As citizens of one country, we can ask how we might be good International Neighbors and Peacemakers. Canada has supported our wildfire struggles for decades. Now American firefighters are supporting Canada in their terrible fires, and Canadian firefighters are helping Minnesota. Smoke crosses borders — and so does compassion. It took time before many of us heard about the loss of the Canadian Namaygoosisagagun First Nation’s homeland and historical archives. Even longer before we learned about 13yearold Chase Paavola, son of the Fire Chief, who turned back in his little aluminum boat to ferry people to safety. Let us honor and emulate that young Peacemaker and all those whose first question is “How can I help?” Peacemaking manifests in so many ways.
Peace ripples out through small, gentle actions as well as bold, daring ones. What kind of Peacemaker are you? What kind would you like to be? I observe generosity happening everywhere — often without any conversation about politics or affiliations. We are made to be helpful to one another. Peacemaking isn’t another burden to assume; it is generosity and support you are already offering. You may not have named it as Peacemaking — but isn’t it? Are there other ways you’d like to explore Peacemaking? I’d love to hear about them. In the meantime, thank you. As you count your Blessings, consider the ways you hold yourself responsible to be a Blessing in this world… and what is that if not Peacemaking? Your neighborhood, your community, your state, your nation are all your ponds. How will you help Peace ripple more widely?