With the International Day of Peace coming up, I want to reflect on the idea of PEACE and how to attain and maintain it.

Last month Steve and I attended the Parliament of World Religions in Chicago. This was our 4th Parliament and after the three PWR before, we looked forward to all the activities, seeing friends & meeting new people. In Chicago we were responsible for, and excited to set up, a room dedicated solely to presenting the New Thought (NT) philosophy and materials from all the denominations. We were also going to have an Interfaith Dialogue everyday. Steve and I arrived Saturday, to work all day Sunday, so everything would be ready for visitors on Monday. From the Hyatt Hotel to the McCormick Center was a long 20-minute walk! We were grateful the walk was enclosed in buildings and a bridge especially when it rained for several days.

PEACE is TAKING QUIET ACTION and doing what needs to be done.

On Sunday, the Hyatt assistant, who was to help us with our large shipped box, was not there when we arrived at the Hyatt’s Parcel Office. Luckily we were able to rent a cart from there. Once we got to the NT room the door from the hall to the room was locked. So I went to the registration desk to ask for the keys. Once inside the room we noticed the tables we ordered were not in the room. We saw extra tables outside the door so we brought them in ourselves. We could have either whined and complained, or just go about our business to take care of what was needed to be done. We did call management to let them know about the situation.We then got a call from the Hyatt letting us know ONE of the flower arrangements had arrived. (There was supposed to be two). Another trip back and forth. Later the second flower arrangement arrived and another trip back and forth.Meanwhile we went to the registration desk only to find out the computers were down so no early registration until the next day.

PEACE is a CHOICE

Monday Morning we went to finish setting up the room & learned the computers were still down. We had to stand in line with the other 7,000 attendees to register one person at a time. While waiting in line during registration we had a choice, we could either be irritated and complain or we could look at this as an opportunity to meet other people from around the world. We met people from India, Canada and Utah. I even gave one of our Interfaith stoles to a lovely gentleman from India. He loved all the symbols of faith on the stole and we had a wonderful and spiritual conversation.

PEACE OF MIND AND HIGH CONSCIOUSNESS CREATES A UNIVERSAL FLOW OF GOODNESS

What we are looking for is seeking us without impediments or restrictions.                     In New Thought, “We attract what we think about and focus on.”We were among 7,000 HIGH CONSCIOUS people attending the Parliament. Being in that Bubble of Oneness, we experienced demonstrations all the time. When we said, “I wonder if so and so is here?” the person showed up. Several of our friends (Rev. Jean Sweet, Sande Hart, Rev. Ahmondra McClendon) thought “I wonder if the Alberts are here” and then we showed up. The exhibition booths we were looking for, we found. Even though workshop rooms were being changed constantly, we eventually found the room we were looking for. We felt God’s guiding hand was there in and amongst everyone.We got lost several times and when we did, there was always a Parliament volunteer near by to steer us in the right direction.People and Things just came to us.

PEACE is RECONNECTING

The best part for us was meeting new people and reconnecting with friends we hadn’t seen in years. Soul to Soul encounters.

PEACE is FORGIVING

Peace cannot happen until there is a consciousness of FORGIVENESS .We had to forgive the Parliament organizers, the McCormick Center planners, and the computers for breaking down.In general for PEACE to happen, we all need to weed out the areas of unforgiveness in our lives. Forgive the family member, friend, co-worker/or anyone who you feel “just doesn’t get it .”We cannot harbor hate and love at the same time. Forgiveness creates a loving heart where PEACE can abide.

This Parliament was not as smooth and well run as we expected, however we were able to maintain our peace of mind, happiness of heart and love for ALL human diversity!

Peacefully,

Abigail and Steve