Kathy Kelly: Occupy the Afghan Airwaves | Occupy Springfield, IL

Kathy Kelly Peace Activist at CIA Drone Protest

Make A Little Space.....To Make A Better Place.

Well, as I'm sure all of you are aware, there is a lot of chaos and violence going on around the world.
Today as I was going about my day and getting stuff done, I was thinking in the back of my mind about all the violence in the middle east, the children who are fleeing their countries and trying to come over here for a chance at survival, about the water issues that Detroit is having, and just about all the chaos that our world seems to be. It appears that the world is not in a good place.....

So, when I got home, I needed to clean up a little bit and felt like I needed to listen to some Praise Music, so I can do some musical intercession, in my heart, for those suffering. But I also wanted to post a song that I thought would appeal to people because it was familiar, and yet provoke a little thought because the words seemed more relevant probably now, due to the craziness going on.

I chose the song, "Heal the World" by Michael Jackson. This song was appropriate to me because, it answered a question I kept asking myself, and I'm sure many of us probably have asked ourselves this lately as well...."What can I do to help" ?

Read the Chorus to the song and see what it says to your heart....

 If you care enough for the living
Make a little space, make a better place

Heal the world

Make it a better place

For you and for me and the entire human race

There are people dying

If you care enough for the living

Make a better place

For you and for me

The words "make a little space...to make a better place..." really stood out to me. 

I think it is important that when we ask the question "what can I do?" that we realize, the size of what we do, does not matter completely...at first. The size of your efforts IS important, but even more important than that is the fact that you are making an effort and how consistent you are to creating sustainable change. 

So, here are some of my suggestions to help facilitate change in our lives, and ultimately to help make a little space...to make a better place....

1. Every Morning Ask Yourself "Am I able?", "Am I willing?". "Am I ready?": If you're capable of answering yes to at least the first two, then you are a true Activist for Change. If you can not answer at least the first two questions, then I suggest maybe doing some soul searching and self-motivation to get yourself able to say "YES!" to the questions. 
2. Change Your Lifestyle: If you are a person who likes to eat out pretty often, then try choosing a day in your week to stay home and write a letter to your senator for a cause you are passionate about. Or maybe you can go out and spend that money you would have spent on food for yourself, and go buy some canned goods, and other sustainable pantry food, then give to a homeless shelter (i.e. Casa Juan Diego). You can also maybe pick a time slot everyday where for one hour you do something creative, to bring some beauty to our world (i.e. paint pictures with your kids, take stuffed animals to kids in hospitals, write a song for someone in need.) You could also use that time slot for some prayer or meditation. 
3. Educate Yourself and Your friends/family: Buy some books on social justice issues, on nonviolent conflict resolution, on creative resistance, or on the issue you are passionate about. Organize a study group, to gather regularly and study an issue that y'all share a passion for, and how to make a change in regards to that issue. I recommend a film called "THE NARROW PATH: Walking Toward Peace and Nonviolence with John Dear S.J." it is a great film to learn about the importance of Peace and Justice from the experiences of a prominent Peace Activist. Take courses in Peace and Justice or in that particular field of Justice that you have a passion for. Get involved with groups that advocate for Human Rights and Peace. 
4. Make a Safe Place: Establish your home or apartment as a safe haven for others. Have a zero tolerance policy in your home for hateful language, for violent actions, or for any behavior that does not build community. Maybe designate a place in your house as a "Zone for Peace", where anyone can go and not be bothered, harassed, or feel abused and as long as someone is in that zone, they are neutral and have full amnesty from any situation or person. 
5. Learn to Listen and to Love: It is important that we start to take time to listen to our concerns, the concerns of our family, and ultimately the concerns of others. Let us listen with compassionate ears. Train yourself to listen to what is being said and to the way the words are being said. Do not simply listen to someone with the intention of immediately offering advice or "you need to do this". Ultimately, most people do not want your advice, they just want someone to listen to them and to vent. Give the other person the gift of your attentiveness to their needs, and the courtesy to offer advice (if wanted) at the proper time (which is usually later). And train yourself to be more willing to just love someone. Get out of your comfort zones and give someone a hug or speak a word of encouragement. Do not be afraid to say "I love you", "You're looking extra pretty today", "I'm blessed to be in your life". The gift you can always give is love because love has no borders and love is boundless. 

I hope you enjoyed this blog and I hope it has blessed you. Please start using my 5 suggestions and let us together start making a little space to make a better place. Maybe soon we can bring a little bit of healing to this crazy world. 

Within the next few weeks, if you have any personal testimonies to what has happened to you as you try to implement these suggestions, please email me and let me know or leave a comment. Also, SPREAD THIS BLOG!! If more people read this post and this blog, more people will be able to start working for Peace! 

Email: jmpianoking100@gmail.com 

Twitter: @jmpianoking100 (follow for blog updates, Peace and Justice news, Nonviolence tips, etc.) 

Feel free to send me a DM on twitter, especially if you are following me. :) 

Love and Peace sent your way! 

STEP UP. STEP OUT. STEP TOGETHER FOR PEACE! 

-Jerry M. Maynard 

PS Click on link to Music Video fo "Heal the World" by Michael Jackson 

Michael Jackson-Heal the World

Sept. 21, 2014 Tierra Ortiz-Rodrigues (President, DignityHouston) and I (Campaign Nonviolence Organizer) got together with some friends and held a public demonstration in the Menil Park to celebrate and enact our universal Right To Peace. #WeAllHaveARight2Peace