Dear Friend in Peace,

When I was three, we lived in a garage "home" behind another, bigger home. Our landlords lived in the big house and were most kind to me. They asked me to call them "Aunt Grace and Uncle Harry." One day, I got to help Uncle Harry plant peas in their garden. Within minutes of completing the planting, I expected to pick and eat the peas. Uncle Harry laughed and then gently explained that some things require patience, including freshly planted peas. He promised to let me know when they were ready to pick. When they were, I was allowed to pick and eat some fresh peas. It turned out, patience was worthwhile: those peas were delicious and I learned patience can yield wonderful results.

The awareness patience is required with freshly planted peas applies to much of life, especially when our goal is to be peaceful, to embody peace. We won't necessarily be peaceful in every moment in one day, one month or even one year or more, but we can, and will continue to increase our inner peace through patience and acceptance of ourselves, others, and outer conditions just as we and they are. Rather than choosing despair or angst we can patiently accept ourselves, others and our world in whatever form of "unpicked peas," we are experiencing. Thinking of myself as an "unpicked pea," amuses and reminds me that like the pea, one day, I shall be ready. The peas will be ready to be eaten and I will be ready to be the Peace I came to be in any and all circumstances. I hope you will join me as a patient pea knowing every time we choose peace, we become more peaceful and create more peace in our world.

"One minute of Patience,
ten years of Peace."
Greek Proverb

This photo from Lake Placid Scrub speaks to me of patience, The patience of our beloved Mother Earth in creating and sustaining life in its myriad and magnificent forms. Earth and all its beings were birthed through time, patience, and love. May love and patience sustain us in our life's journey to greater peace and eventually to embody peace.