"I CHANGED MY MIND"

Mother took a deep breath, frowned at me and said, "I'm never setting foot in your home again." Then she left in a huff. It wasn't two weeks later that she called and asked me about an upcoming holiday. Was I having everyone over, and what could she bring? I smiled to myself, "I thought you were never setting your foot in my home again." There was a pause, clearly she had forgotten the statement she made in anger. Then she said, "Well - I changed my mind!"

How many times do we say or do things that go against our better judgment? Indeed, that go against our very beliefs, when something or someone hurts our feelings or shocks or angers us - or even scares us? 

Such were the outcries of so many peace-loving people in the world at the images of dead and dying people of Syria. Children gasping for air, being doused with water. Men foaming at the mouth. And rows upon rows of precious little children wrapped in shrouds, obviously dead. Victims of a horrible chemical weapons attack.

I suspect most of us had an initial reaction of wanting to avenge these innocents. Fight or flight? Primal instincts when threatened with harm. This evil dictator Assad must not be allowed to carry his fight to the world by releasing weapons that had been condemned and outlawed by most civilized countries. Where was the outrage of those 189 countries? Does that mean they have chosen to "flee"? Few made it known they would not stand for the use of chemical weapons by Assad.

Our beleaguered, peace-loving President.. awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, agonized over his decision as to what the United States would or should do, while the world looked on. When he announced he would take limited military action against the Syrian regime, shock waves circled the globe. He surprised the world again when shortly afterwards (and after a 45-minute walk that must have been a time of listening to God as well as a trusted adviser) President Obama told the world he was sending this to our Congress to allow them to debate the issue. Some have viewed this as a sign of weakness. I think it is an act of courage.

So much has happened the past two weeks. Most notable to me was the number of religious leaders, Pope Francis in particular, calling for prayers over the situation. Prayers for a peaceful resolution...a diplomatic resolution to the crisis in Syria. The numbers of people protesting taking any military action for fear of another Viet Nam or Iraq or Afghanistan reminded me of earlier times. I recall co-writing protest songs with a young soldier during the Viet Nam era.

I recall all of the New Year's Eve prayers and meditations, joining in with people around the world to give positive energy to our requests for peace... of the heartsick pleadings not to go to war during the Bush era. The throngs of peace lovers around the world seem to have grown so much since those times. The prayers for peace may finally be working some good.

I watched Charlie Rose interview Bashar Assad on PBS last night.. excerpts of which had been shown on CBS prior to its debut. I was amazed at Assad's willingness to discuss the possibility of turning over Syria's chemical weapons stockpile, with their eventual destruction. This morning we heard Syria's ally, Russia's proposal to do this very thing. It appears that prayers and images of peace are working. Why does it take something as horrendous as seeing little children killed to cause peacemakers to rise up in such force?

The wise words from my Mother's mouth have stayed with me all these years. Now I see that I mistakenly changed my mind when I at first thought we should launch a limited military attack on Syria. Now I have changed my mind again.

Obama changed his mind when he at first opted for a military strike being the only option the U.S. had. Then he changed his mind and sent his proposal to Congress. There, many former "hawks" appear to have changed their minds and positions as well. 

Now.. Maybe, just maybe, Bashar Assad appears to have changed his mind about the chemical weapons. 

And just maybe... someday we will have peace on earth. September 12th is the Unity World Day

of Prayer. Let's all join in the prayers for peace on earth, especially for the Syrian people. If you are not a praying person, please take a moment out of your day to send thoughts of peace into the noosphere.

We may be approaching a critical mass in consciousness. May we one day awaken to a new race consciousness, where peace is the only option.

Let peace begin with me - and you - and you - and you,
Marilyn