If you are living, you are giving... so this Thanksgiving, thank yourself for being a giving individual. You may question or doubt whether you are "doing much" but by being a person working toward peace in yourself and in the world, you are truly contributing and  giving to life. You may not appreciate what a smile to a stranger may mean, or what a call or kind word to a friend or a colleague may add to the day. Our worth is not weighable in external reward, and it is not even that important to be affirmed with fame or fortune. Who you are and that you are gives to the whole living family of life.

 

Years ago a theme and song from a well-known film was "Live, Just Live for Life." How we need to remember to join in that journey. Live...Just live for life in all its complexities, its beauty and challenges..you are part of the journey and you fill a niche no other living being can fill...and as Thanksgiving approaches we give thanks for the giving you are and for the giving you do in contributing to the splendor and beauty of life as well as the living process and path toward peace.

 

Peace to you this day. Peace.

How often do you see the "No Fear" signs as you go about your day? There they are on the bumpers of cars, on T-Shirts and signs above doors occasionally. While the slogan really refers to facing athletic challenges of perhaps extreme nature, it can also remind that fear doesn't give us anything but more of itself...as FDR's reminder, "We have nothing to fear, but fear itself."

 

How challenging is it to believe that...to see through the fog of fear when it arises in our midst...to face it and move through it with faith we will make it to the clarity of peace? We need to be a trailblazer every time fear arises and confronts us...in truth, we need to build a pattern of taming fear and walking forward inspite of it. Facing fear and walking forward through it is a practice we have to cultivate. It only evaporates when we refuse to give it belief or power.

 

A dear friend used to tell us "Just pretend you are how you want to be and after awhile you'll believe it." That's a first step through the fog of fear and toward peace. Pretend you are confident and assurred all will be fine regardless of how thick the fog appears to be.

 

Make it a practice. Walk forward through the mist and fog. You're not alone.

 

Peace to you this day.

Peace.