UNITED WE
LIVE....DIVIDED WE DIE
Global
Message for March 20 Earth Day
By Earth Day
founder, John McConnell -- www.earthsite.org
Abraham Lincoln said, "United we stand, divided we fall."
He was thinking of the United States. Today, our problem is
global and far more serious.
America and many other countries devote most of their wealth to military
programs. They spend billions for bombs and pennies for peace.
Were the money spent on our evil weapons to kill people
spent on promoting global understanding of peaceful resolution of
conflict and the causes of violence and hate, there would be no more
wars.
Most governments say we must kill the killers and praises the soldiers
who kill and sometimes die for their country thinking it is the right
thing to do. It is sad to think of their misguided loyalty.
Martin Luther King, Jr. said, "The ultimate weakness of violence is
that it is a descending spiral, begetting the very thing it seeks to
destroy. Instead of diminishing evil, it multiplies it.
Through violence you murder the hater, but you do not murder hate.
In fact, violence merely increases hate. . .
Returning violence for violence multiplies violence, adding deeper
darkness
to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out
darkness;
only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do
that."
As a result, the whole world is in a state of siege with ever more fear
and anxiety. We need a miracle to avoid catastrophe.
THE POWER OF PRAYER.
Dedication and action by all is needed. The proven power of prayer
can help. Let all who see this message decide what they will do.
First, let us all make this Earth Day a time to forgive others and
ourselves for our failures in the past. Failures have been the
result of sins of omission as well as sins of commission. There is
some measure of guilt in all of us.
A song from the 18th century comes to mind: "Forgiveness,
forgiveness, forgiveness is free. No matter how sinful, how vile
you may be. Oh come to the savior, oh come to the savior. Oh
come to the savior right now."
In the Welsh revival this song caused thousands of conversions and
actions that resulted in a spiritual awakening in England and America.
Social justice spread. Converts included scholars who
established our major universities.
I must add that other religions can find in their history similar
records. On Earth Day, we have participation by Christians, Jews,
Muslims and people of every major religion. The point of agreement
is the importance of peace, justice and Earth stewardship in the here
and now. The best evidence of the value of our faith is the good
we do for people and planet.
Let us make this day a special day of prayer for the troubled mid-east.
Peace in the Holy Land would be a catalyst for peace all over the
world.
Now is the time for the whole world to unite in the vital matters where
we agree.
John McConnell
www.earthsite.org
1933 Woodbine St.
Ridgewood, NY 11385
Ph: 718/366-6863
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