Wednesday, September 21, 2016

International Day of Peace


Day on the Calendar



Today, September 21, is designated as International Day of Peace by the United Nations.  My calendar marked the day and Angela posted about it on her blog, here.  Surely peace, both within ourselves and among all nations and people, is something we would all like to have?  Would wish and pray for?  Yet it remains so elusive.

An Offering of Flowers
I would like to think that I do my part to facilitate peace.  Today, I picked some flowers (plumbago flowers, in this case) from my garden and made an offering of flowers at my altar.  In Buddhism, the offering of flowers is a meditation on the impermanence of all things.  It is a reminder that just as the flowers fade and die, so do we and we have only this brief time in which to do meritorious deeds.   And I lit a candle, which is a symbol of the light of wisdom:

An Offering of Light
And I said a prayer for there to be peace and well-being within ourselves and among us all. 

Today, I am grateful for:

- A day devoted to the ideal of peace throughout the world
- An opportunity to pray for peace
- Flowers from the garden and what they symbolize
- The light of the candle and what it symbolizes
- Those who strive for peace

It would be lovely if every day was Peace Day, wouldn't it?
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10 comments:

  1. AngelaSeptember 21, 2016 at 11:55 PM

    We must each do all we can to bring peace in the place where we are.

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    1. BlessSeptember 22, 2016 at 10:47 AM

      That we must, Angela. Not just one designated day of the year, but every day.

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  2. Everyday life at Number 38September 22, 2016 at 3:38 AM

    What a lovely post. While I am resigned to world wide peace never happening I try to bring as much peace as possible to our little world at Number 38 and to pass some kindness on to others. xx

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    1. BlessSeptember 22, 2016 at 11:10 AM

      I believe that we can do only what is within our abilities to do, Suzanne. Live as peacefully as possible with our families, our neighbors, in our communities; keep an open mind, extend a hand in friendship, reach out and help when and where we can, etc. Small acts of kindness and goodwill.

      Delete
  3. SusanSeptember 22, 2016 at 6:17 AM

    Thank you for that. I had no idea it was a day designated to Peace by the UN. I have two calendars in the house, neither of them marked. I didn't hear anything on the news. (I watch 2 news casts throughout the evening)I haven't read anything until now, so I am happy to hear that you did something to celebrate the event.

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    1. BlessSeptember 22, 2016 at 11:26 AM

      You are welcome, Susan. I didn't hear anything about it on the network evening news, either. I know there's a lot of news to cover and they have only 30 minutes in which to cover it, but surely they could have devoted 30 seconds to mention it? They found time to discuss the break-up of the marriage of a celebrity couple, but not a day of peace. Well, anyway, now you know. Sept. 21 is Peace Day. But we can all strive for peace, every day. May you have a peaceful day, today.

      Delete
  4. Sew Blessed Maw [Judy]September 23, 2016 at 4:40 PM

    Peace.. Praying for peace.. Our world is definitely in need of peace.. Really sad.

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    1. BlessSeptember 23, 2016 at 6:04 PM

      There is such a longing for peace and yet, it remains so elusive.

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  5. Lady EllaFebruary 16, 2021 at 5:52 PM

    Oh yes. If each person tried harder to find peace, within and without, it would soon make a massive difference! I didn't know about the offering of flowers, although the celebration/appreciation of cherry blossom in Japan is also born of the desire to remember the impermanence of things.

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    Replies
    1. BlessFebruary 16, 2021 at 10:53 PM

      It seems that peace is even harder to find these days, doesn't it?

      Delete

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