Peace Pilgrim
 Peace Pilgrim (1908-1981) On her pilgrimage from January 1, 1953 till July 7, 1981 Photo by James B. Burton From 1953 to 1981 a silver haired woman calling herself only "Peace Pilgrim" walked more than 25,000 miles on a personal pilgrimage for peace. She vowed to "remain a wanderer until mankind has learned the way of peace, walking until given shelter and fasting until given food." In the course of her 28 year pilgrimage she touched the hearts, minds, and lives of thousands of individuals all across North America. Her message was both simple and profound. It continues to inspire people all over the world: This is the way of peace: overcome evil with good, and falsehood with truth, and hatred with love. A more detailed account of Peace Pilgrim's early life and additional background and reference material can be found at the website of PEACE PILGRIM, An Extraordinary Life An excerpt: 'A friend of ours heard her and said she spoke Bahai teachings. A college girl said she was sure Peace was a Christian Scientist because what she spoke was Christian Science. At least two young men, after hearing her in college classes, said she spoke what Eastern religions teach. This is a typical reaction she received whether she was speaking in a Jewish synagogue, a Moslem temple or a Christian Church. It is the reaction we receive from many who read her books they write that her message is the same as their religion teaches. I remember her speaking once at a Friends Meeting - a small outdoor gathering of adults and children of all ages sitting on the rocky edge of a beach. Afterwards, John said to her, "What you say is what the saints have said down through the ages." She answered, "I know there is nothing new in my message, just the practice of it. That practice was extraordinary. Peace Pilgrim was an extraordinary human being. Her legacy is clear and practical and compelling. She left us this wisdom: We must walk according to the highest light we have, encountering lovingly those who are out of harmony, and trying to inspire them to a better way. Whenever you bring harmony into any unpeaceful situation, you contribute to the cause of peace. When you do something for world peace, peace among groups, peace among individuals, or your own inner peace, you improve the total peace picture. (Peace Pilgrim, 1982, p.l09) There is within the hearts of people deep desire for peace on earth, and they would speak for peace if they were not bound by apathy, by ignorance, by fear. It is the job of peacemakers to inspire them from their apathy, to dispel their ignorance with truth, to allay their fear with faith that God's laws work - and work for good... (p. 99) A few really dedicated people can offset the ill effects of masses of out of-harmony people, so we who work for peace must not falter. (p.99) Good will win in the world. The darkness that we see in the world today is due to the disintegration of things that are not good. Only the things that are good can endure. Yes, love will win in this world. Those who are filled with hatred are desperately unhappy and desperately - even though unconsciously - seeking a better way. Only those who are filled with love are serene and at peace. (p.99) My simple peace message is adequate - really just the message that the way of peace is the way of love. Love is the greatest power on earth. It conquers all things (p.97)' Peace and Blessings |