Peace... Joy... Love...

Hi Friends:
Thanks for joining me this past week! I enjoyed preparing the posts and, especially, re-visiting many of the videos that have made me laugh, and cry, and sigh...

To wrap things up on this journey of Peace & Joy, I can't think of anything better than combining Jason Mraz and the Nobel Peace Prize in one shot, can you?! How is that possible, you ask?? Click here and you'll find out! :-)


As we prepare to spend time with my family in NB, I'd like to wish you all the best of PEACE, JOY & LOVE this Christmas and in the New Year! And may we ALL continue to take time to be Peace...

"We can never obtain peace in the world if we neglect the inner world and don't make peace with ourselves. World Peace must develop out of Inner Peace." - the Dalai Lama


Pace e bene,

day seven of the journey...

I offer you peace.
I offer you love.
I offer you friendship.
I see your beauty.
I hear your need.
I feel your feelings.
My wisdom flows from the Highest Source.
I salute that Source in you.
Let us work together for unity and love.
- Ghandi's Prayer for Peace

Pace e bene,

day six of the journey...

O Almighty Sun, whose light clears away all clouds,

We take refuge in you.

Guide of all people,

God of all deities,

Lord of all angels,

We pray you to dispel the mists of illusion from the hearts of the nations

And lift their lives by your all-sufficient power,

Your ever shining light, your everlasting life,

Your heavenly joy and your perfect peace.

- Sufi Prayer for Peace

Pace e bene,

day five of the journey...

In the name of Allah, the beneficent, the merciful.
Praise be to the Lord of the Universe who has created us
and made us into tribes and nations,
that we may know each other, not that we may despise each other.
If the enemy incline towards peace,
do thou also incline towards peace,
and trust in God,
for the Lord is the one that heareth and knoweth all things.
And the servants of God, Most Gracious
are those who walk on the Earth in humility,
and when we address them,
we say "PEACE."
- Muslim Prayer for Peace




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Pace e bene,

day four of the journey...

O Great Spirit of our Ancestors,

I raise my pipe to you.

To your messengers the four winds,

and to Mother Earth who provides for your children.

Give us the wisdom to teach our children

to love,

to respect,

and to be kind to each other

so that they may grow with peace in mind.

Let us learn to share all the good things you provide for us on this Earth.

- Native American Prayer for Peace

Pace e bene,

day three of the journey...

Lord, make me
an instrument of your 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.
- from the Prayer of St. Francis

pace e bene,

day two of the journey...

If anyone speaks ill of you,

Praise them always.

If anyone injures you,

Serve them nicely.

Help them in all possible ways.

You will attain immense strength.

You will control anger and pride.

You will enjoy peace, poise and serenity.

You will become divine.

- Swami Sivananda

(For more info: www.wherethehellismatt.com)

Pace e bene,

day one of the journey...

I am Peace
surrounded by Peace
secure in Peace.
Peace protects me
Peace supports me
Peace is in me
Peace is mine --
All is well.
Peace to all beings
Peace among all beings
Peace from all beings
I am steeped in Peace
Absorbed in Peace
In the streets, at our work,
having peaceful thoughts,
Peaceful words, peaceful acts.
- Buddhist meditation on Peace

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Pace e bene,

A seven-day journey...

There is a lot of tension in the city these days.

The good-natured hustle & bustle of the Christmas season is being challenged by a city-wide public transit strike. The 35 cm of snow we got this week is pretty, but didn't help the situation. Downtown, I hear horns honking... people yelling... I see traffic crawling at a snail's pace... and tempers flaring.

And yet, there ARE acts of kindness. Times like these bring out both the best and the worst in the citizens of Ottawa. There is no black & white here... there are no winners & losers... only infinite shades of grey. In this environment of heightened stress, I want to be Peace all-the-more. So, for the next seven days, I invite you to join me in a Prayer of Peace & Joy. Starting tomorrow (Saturday), I'll post words of prayer & wisdom from a different tradition, accompanied by my photography, as well as a short video that made me smile. I believe that taking a few moments to be Peace & Joy, we can counter-balance the craziness that's going on in the streets and malls.

Won't you join me on this short journey of Peace & Joy?

Pace e bene,

Blissed & Blessed...

Forty-three years ago today, a baby girl was born. She grew up to be the woman I am today.



I called my mother this morning to say "Merci, Mame!" Thank you for giving me Life. She was reminiscing... She entered the hospital on a Friday night and I was born by c-section the next day. She did not have heavy labour pains, apparently. I was a wee thing, weighing a mere 6 lbs 2 on. After I was born, my father said: "Merci." (She still remembers that part clearly.) We spent the next 11 days at the hospital. My dad was so excited when he came to pick us up that he locked the keys in the car. But obviously, it all worked out in the end! :-)

Fast forward to this past weekend... I spent some time with a wise woman, a friend who happens to be 20 months into her cancer journey. Her perspective is amazing. Her cancer has been a powerful teacher. She now knows, without a doubt, that - in her words - it's all about the Love!

I believe her. On this day, my birthday, I am blissed and blessed. I am loved by family & friends... and I recognize the presence of God/Love as being the energy that guides my Life.

Pace e bene,