Day 14 of 365 (Seeking Inspiration for Peace)

Charles Moore stated, “It is hard to live consistently, but it is essential if we are to make our world a less violent place. If we are honest, most of us aren’t very willing to give up the good life we enjoy. Consequently, we keep on fueling the very fires of war we wish to extinguish.” The implied corollary of Moore’s assertion is that if we wish peace when had better be willing to share and share in a big way. Moore goes on to state our standard of living, more particularly our mobility and autonomy make it had to give up things for peace; we hold them too dear. 

I think Mr. Moore is right. I am not sure there is anything we can really do about it. In watching human behavior for more than 57 years there has never been a day pass when conspicuous consumption has not arisen as a point of focus. Recently when my city was struck by a loss of electrical power for a week there was a need for auxiliary power. There in the midst of calamity were a group of men comparing the size of the generators they had acquired. It goes almost without question that the gent owning the high end BMW had purchased a generator that would have provided sufficient back up for a small community college. 

There is something hardwired in our species relative to acquisition, possession and display. It would be good if we could learn to share for the world grows ever smaller due to massive population growth. But I doubt we will ever be able to do it. For in every place where people gather there is that spark of acquisition, that inherent avarice that lust for things. We can try individually to lead by example but I don’t hold out much hope for humanity on the grand scale. Sorry about that folks. 

Like the title says, I am seeking inspiration for peace. If we can’t move beyond the need, the lust for things, what else can bring peace?