Sunday, January 1, 2012

Happy New Year


Today is not only New Year's Day; it has also been designated by the Roman Catholic Church as World Peace Day.  It is a day to meditate for peace throughout the world, and you do not have to be Catholic to participate. This day, the start of a promising new year, offers each us the perfect opportunity  to make a resolution or a promise to ourselves to try to do our best to work to create a better world during the coming year. It's also the perfect occasion  to take a quiet moment during our festivities to meditate and visualize a more peaceful, just and sustainable world. 


Sweet Peace, where dost thou dwell? I humbly crave,
Let me once know.
I sought thee in a secret cave,
And ask'd, if Peace were there,
A hollow wind did seem to answer, No:
Go seek elsewhere.

I did; and going did a rainbow note:
Surely, thought I,
This is the lace of Peace's coat:
I will search out the matter.
But while I looked the clouds immediately
Did break and scatter.

Then went I to a garden and did spy
A gallant flower,
The crown-imperial: Sure, said I,
Peace at the root must dwell.
But when I digged, I saw a worm devour
What showed so well.

At length I met a rev'rend good old man;
Whom when for Peace
I did demand, he thus began:
There was a Prince of old
At Salem dwelt, who lived with good increase
Of flock and fold.

He sweetly lived; yet sweetness did not save
His life from foes.
But after death out of his grave
There sprang twelve stalks of wheat;
Which many wond'ring at, got some of those
To plant and set.

It prospered strangely, and did soon disperse
Through all the earth:
For they that taste it do rehearse
That virtue lies therein;
A secret virtue, bringing peace and mirth
By flight of sin.

Take of this grain, which in my garden grows,
And grows for you;
Make bread of it: and that repose
And peace, which ev'ry where
With so much earnestness you do pursue,
Is only there.

--George Herbert--

5 comments:

  1. Happy New Year Mary! Wishing you and your family all the best in 2012 (and beyond).

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  2. Happy New Year Mary..here is to new beginnings ♥

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  3. Happy New Year, Mary! May 2012 be peaceful and happy for you and your family.

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  4. Wishing you a Happy New Year Mary

    hugs Sharon

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  5. Here's wishing a New Year of peacefullness in your life Mary...you've earned it:)

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