In a few hours, I'll start my fast for World Peace. I'm praying that leaders of the nations will increasingly consider nonviolent ways to solve conflicts. I'm glad that several people around the Bloggernacle will be joining me in a Vigil tomorrow, Sunday March 4, to promote peace.
I sent out about 50 emails to invite Mormon bloggers to participate in this effort. I was hoping that many of them would put something up on their site to pass the word. Those who posted on peace are featured in my sidebar. (If I missed you, let me know!) I didn't get much of a response among traditional Mormons. Almost everyone I sent emails to who responded to me or put something up on their blog were non-traditional or "post-Mormons." I found this interesting and a little disappointing, and can't help but wonder why.
Perhaps some "traditional" Mormon bloggers associated this effort with non-violent methods of achieving peace. Do Mormons on the whole support military force to defend their countries and keep their families safe? Comments I have received on this blog and read on other blogs seem to suggest this view.
Perhaps some did not respond because praying or fasting for peace seems ineffective. One little person or family and their prayers may not make much of a difference when stacked up against world leaders, nations, and nuclear weapons.
Some may have had more important or more interesting posts to make this week.
Or maybe my emails just went into their junk mail.
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I invite you all to participate tomorrow in whatever way you feel comfortable; to pray, fast, or meditate for World Peace. Send me a comment and let me know how it went.
Booknotes 3.23
9 hours ago
Posts
8 comments:
I am joining you in this effort.
I'm joining a little late, but I posted about the vigil today. Thanks for this effort.
Cheers,
Jeff
Jana said...
I have tried repeatedly to comment on your blog today but the word verification on blogger isn't working (perhaps you can temporarily turn it off?).
Here's my brief comment if you'd like to post it for me on your fasting post:
"Our family fasted (well, the kids ate, but joined us in thought, purpose, and prayer). I'm realizing that I probably need to practice fasting more in order to get a greater spiritual benefit. For me, I found it very difficult to move beyond my own concerns and to focus on the global situation. I will work more on this...."
~Jana
I've turned off the word verification, so if you had trouble commenting, I hope you will try again!
For what it's worth, I received two comments from "traditional" Mormons who were happy to join in the effort (since I don't get a lot of traffic on my site, I was pretty happy about that). I think uniting for purposes like this is a good thing. Thanks for the thought and the effort you made to send out the invitation.
For what it is worth, I who first suggested the idea am in every sense a "traditional" mormon
Doc was the first to suggest this fast, and it was a wonderful idea!!
Thanks, M&M and friends. Hooray for "traditional" Mormons!
Please share your experiences--I'll post on mine later today.
This may not be what you want to hear, but as I offered my simple prayer for this cause, I also prayed that there would be peace and love in my home (something I often pray for...just something I want always to be there and thought was worth tacking on the end of my prayer). Let me be clear that I think it's worthwhile to pray for big things in the big world out there, and I think this really was a good cause. But the Spirit felt more potent as I prayed for peace in my little family. It made me consider that in the end, even as I can (and I think should) continue to pray for peace in the world (this is something Pres. Hinckley has talked about desiring as well), where my personal efforts will have the most impact is within the walls of my own home. Probably not the experience you wanted to hear, but it was a surprising and quietly moving experience for me.
p.s. Got another email today: Another "traditional" friend and her husband also joined in the effort. :)
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