…heartbeat
of the positive revolution
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Peace: A Powerful, Practical Priority I never wanted to be called a “peacenik” so I’ve been a closet peace-lover for as long as I can remember. Speaking about “peace” was just too soft, too much of a cliché to be used in the practical, respectable world of corporate America. I stepped out of the closet when I wrote Revolutionary Agreements, pushing past my fears of being criticized. I am now a full-fledged Revolutionary calling for a PEACEful revolution!. With the Agreements as my guide, I am taking bold action on behalf of the citizenry of our beloved United States of America. During the weekend of September 11, my husband Glenn and I attended a conference in Washington DC to educate ourselves on Congressional legislation for a Cabinet-level U.S. Dept. of Peace. With us were passionate people from diverse ethnic, cultural and work backgrounds including: farmers, therapists, educators, politicians, artists, business owners, authors, nuns; couples, singles, parents, teenagers; Native Americans, African-Americans, Asian-Americans, Hispanics, Caucasians; Christians, Muslims, Jews, Catholics, Buddhists, Agnostics; celebrities and lone rangers; representatives of 40 states and countless Congressional Districts. United, we merged our hopes and dreams into a laser focus to raise the national priority for Peace on Earth. Imagine for a moment our country taking a stand – no, a LEAD – in nonviolent solutions to international and domestic conflict. We have the resources, the know-how and the passion. Statistics prove the efficacy of preventative and restorative programs that dramatically reduce violence in homes, schools and on the streets of U.S. communities. Not only are these programs good for the soul, they are good for the wallet. Not only can they ameliorate the horrors that family members of perpetrators and victims suffer in our current punitive justice system, but it COSTS LESS to do so! Why aren’t these programs more widespread? I believe it’s because it has not been a national priority; and it won’t be until we the people unite to build a fire under our elected representatives and compel them to take a hard look at the image we present to our citizenry and the world through our choices. On Monday alone 145 meetings took place on Capitol Hill to lobby for the Dept. of Peace. We have just begun. What kind of statement would it make to the world if the U.S. made it a priority to research, facilitate and articulate non-violent solutions to conflict? If our President had advice on the most advanced information on our “enemy’s” psyche, culture, and causes of hatred for us? If he or she had a Cabinet-level advisor that could offer nonviolent solutions to international conflict that equaled the high level of advice given for potential military solutions? We know how much war costs; how much would peace cost? Shouldn’t they BOTH be measured? I have felt too naïve, too disempowered, too concerned about my image, or too hopeless at times to engage politically in being an effective force for peace. Until September 12. At the climax of our three days together, we had the rare privilege of hearing from a man whom a major poll once named the “most trusted figure” in American public life. His nightly newscasts used to be scrutinized by politicians, intellectuals and fellow journalists for clues to the thinking of mainstream America. Here’s what I heard Walter Cronkite say: “If we can spend hundreds of billions of dollars learning how to kill people, we should be able to spend an equal amount learning how to keep them alive!” Give us your tired, your poor… I am tired of feeling trapped by my inaction in a government built of, by and for the people. My poor Spirit yearns to be liberated from self-imposed prisons of fear to reveal its true essence: unbounded, unconditional LOVE. I am grateful for the capability to steward the Revolutionary Agreements and to join with my fellow citizens in being Love in Action, taking a stand for Peace as a Powerful, Practical Priority for our nation. I had my first-ever meeting on proposed legislation with Congressional staff this week and it won’t be my last. Join me if you feel called: marian@RevolutionaryAgreements.com. With deep gratitude,
Agreements
in Action Win/Win Winners Joe Obregon is a 77 year-old retired self-management consultant. Melanie called. She’d found herself between a rock and a hard place and wanted my advice. Her dilemma revolved around whether she should pay a contractor whom she believed had not done as good a job as was expected. I found myself leaning toward her argument but resisted making a judgment; instead I listened with my heart. I refrained from giving her advice and gently guided the conversation to a place where Melanie was able to see and choose for herself the best option. She chose to pay the agreed contract, seeing this as a better option than hiring expensive attorneys, spending time and energy she could be using elsewhere and creating a potentially adversarial relationship. Irene called. She was having difficulty making a decision about renting to a physically disabled person. The state has certain legal requirements for landlords around equipping their apartments for renters with handicaps and she was not in a financial position to make those additions and changes. She felt pressured by her own ethics and a moral and compassionate desire to be helpful. Once again I listened with my heart. I did not tell her directly what to do but suggested that she tell her own truth compassionately and trust the outcome. She called the prospective renter and shared honestly her predicament. She later told me that she was pleasantly surprised and relieved when the renter listened with complete understanding placing no blame on her. Why are these stories significant for me? Normally, I would jump right into other people’s challenges and offer up my advice intending to “fix” their problems for them. People expect it of me and I always had more than one solution on the tip of my tongue. Listening deeply was a foreign concept to me. Incorporating the Agreements into my daily life has freed me in ways I did not think possible. I have changed what doesn’t work. I no longer feel the need to carry and solve others’ problems; instead, by honoring their choices I encourage access to their own power. As I give the gift of heartfelt listening and love, it brings out the best in all of us. My mission: To express God by loving as God loves and playing T.A.G. (Truth/Acceptance/Gratitude). Everyone wins. Beverly Title, Ph.D., is co-founder of Teaching Peace and the Executive Director of the Longmont Community Justice Partnership. For 25 years she was a public school educator where she specialized in working with high-risk youth. She was the program developer of the national No-Bullying Program, and has worked extensively with schools and communities throughout the country on conflict resolution and violence prevention. She received the 2000 Virginia Mackey Award for Leadership in Restorative Practice. www.teachingpeace.org I grew up a privileged white woman intending a career working with high achievers, much like myself-- I teach, they listen. By the end of my first year I was already involved with a high-risk student and wound up going to court on his behalf. My career took an abrupt turn at that point; since then I have spent most of my adult life working and teaching in alternative schools for at-risk youth. They teach, I listen. I remember one 15 year-old boy in particular. As a two year old, his mother had dropped him off at a babysitter’s – and never returned. He ended up in the custody of his grandmother who was unprepared to raise a toddler. By the time he came to us, he was an angry, insecure boy who had taken on a cynicism that was heartbreaking to see in one so young. We worked together reasonably well until one day we were in gym with other students and coaches. Suddenly, he became angry and started screaming profanities at me. I was stunned. Had he been in a traditional school, this would have been cause for suspension or worse. I could react and punish him or I could listen more deeply to the truth behind the words. I chose to listen. In that moment I saw a frightened two-year old standing at a screen door crying for a mother who would never come home. My heart opened to his pain and I could see the potential of this young man. It wasn’t long until the students began calling me ‘Teach,’ an affectionate name that I came to cherish. When asked by another teacher what they liked about me one boy replied, “It’s like this, we know Teach loves us, but she can sure kick our ass if we need it.” I did love “my kids” and I was not afraid to hold them accountable for their actions. Once they knew there was a safe place for truth telling and deep listening, there was a willingness to be accountable. Together we learned that what makes truth, listening and accountability possible is mutual respect. When I turned 50 I made a commitment to spend the rest of my life working for peace. I find that the principles behind the Revolutionary Agreements resonate well with this mission. Working with my kids propelled me forward into leadership in the restorative movement. I am grateful for their most precious gift: teaching me how to teach peace. Love Notes
Calendar of Events Sunday, September 25, Stafford, TX : A discussion group on Revolutionary Agreements led by Rachel Claret at the Thoreau Universalist Unitarian Church. For more information, please call 281-961-0851. Thursday, September 29, Boulder, CO: Marian will be the guest speaker at Soul Food, a unique weekly lunch series dedicated to nurturing the body, mind and soul of women. Enjoy a delicious meal at Sunflower Restaurant while learning new ways to nourish yourself! $25. Please RSVP by 5pm Sept. 28 to Debra: 303-442-3124 debrabl@comcast.net. For more information: http://www.whynotshootforthemoon.com/html/soulfood.html. Thursdays through October 6, Ventura, CA: Ventura County Church of Religious Science. "How To Create More Freedom and Joy In Our Lives and Our World" using Revolutionary Agreements. Facilitated by Bill and Susan Seale. To register or find out more about the program, please call the church, 805-643-1933. Wednesday, October 12, 9:00AM PST: Marian will be the featured guest on “Lights On With Nancy Lee,” a web radio show designed to “inform, enlighten and find positive solutions...” Marian will be joining Nancy Lee’s roster of past guests who include Steven Halpern, Neale Donald Walsch and Marianne Williamson. Tune in to www.healthylife.net. Tuesday, November 1, 7:00PM MT : A special free webinar called “Freedom Now: Enjoying Personal Freedom on the Way to Financial Freedom.” The webinar is designed for networkers and sponsored by Networking University. For details and registration, go to http://www.networkingtimes.com/link/marian. I used to play war games with my cousins when I was a kid. The girls were the nurses. We stole boxes of bandaids from our houses and then raced around the ‘battlefield’ to heal the fallen soldiers by putting little bandaids on them. Once they were patched up they were ready to play again. If someone got a “fatal” wound (“Bang, you’re dead!”) then we used our biggest bandaids to bring them back to life. The nurses never got wounded; we were immune. When it got too dark to see we all went home, laughing at the bandaids on noses, chins and elbows, commenting on a game well played. Would that it were that easy…children running and giggling onto the battlefields, placing little Looney Tunes ® bandaids on our fallen soldiers, bringing them back to life, healing all wounds instantly, then everyone changing sides and going at it again, and finally heading home to milk and cookies. Tired of war, the next day we play TAG.
Be
Still My Heart Be
still my heart, you beat too fast, When once you beat so fast in love Where once our yards were fenceless The old ones cry great clouds of tears The price of all those shiny toys There are no winners in these wars It’s
not too late the Elders cry We must be as our children are I heard a voice inside me speak: I vow to do the best I can My head is light, my heart is calm Lighten UP! |
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