Business!’ cried the Ghost, wringing its hands again. “Mankind was my business; charity, mercy, forbearance, and benevolence, were, all, my business. The deals of my trade were but a drop of water in the comprehensive ocean of my business!”
― Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol
Virginia Woolf once said: “You cannot find peace by avoiding life.” Peace is found in action!
The indomitable Eleanor Roosevelt declared: “It isn’t enough to talk about peace. One must believe in it. And it isn’t enough to believe in it. One must work at it.” Even so, it is difficult at times to know how to participate. How do we “work at it?”
Perhaps the “work” is sharing kindness and love. A gentle word said in passing, a smile exchanged with a co-worker, a hug given when sorrow has visited a friend. St. Francis of Assisi prayed: “Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love.”
Lady Budd 
I am inhaling peace from your photo.That is my peace work today. Funnily enough, an hour ago I picked up a book by Stephanie Dowrick and it opened at the last chapter which is the Peacemaker’s Power. In it , is her commitment to peacemaking; a commitment which she writes down and keeps with her. Now that is working at it! The book is called Everyday Kindness. Once again, I love all your quotes.
LikeLike
I have found the book, “Everyday Kindness” at the Vancouver Public Library and have added it to my “to read” list. Thank you so much for the recommendation!! And thank you so much for your visit!!!
LikeLike
You must have one of the best libraries in the world.
LikeLike
My father loved books and I have inherited his life-long passion for collecting them. When I was a child, I remember books housed in the closets, under the beds, used as side tables and lamp stands. And now we can add e-books and audiobooks!!! Ah, paradise!!! As C.S. Lewis once said: “You can’t get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me.” What I am finding is that time does not allow us to read all of the books we want to read. So that is why I listen to recommendations from friends. I have just gone through a painful process of culling my library and donating many books to a charity (as my father did before me). Hoarding books is much like hoarding gold. It can never make for happiness. It is a treasure that must be shared with others.
LikeLike
I feel for you culling your library but I am in hearty agreement that they must be shared. During the earthquakes, our physical libraries were damaged and had to close. The library services did a REMARKABLE job of restoring services as quickly as possible but for awhile we were forced back on to own resources; and it was so much fun sharing books with friends; dipping in to each other’s collections. We didn’t run out of reading material.
LikeLike
Thank you so much for sharing your wisdom!!!!
LikeLike
Giverny is beautiful isn’t it? I love Monet and the Impressionists and their pictures always stir up a sense of peace in me. Lord knows the world needs a good dose of peace at the moment. I always like the quotation, “If not me, who, if not now, when?” It makes me remember that if I want the world to be better then I can say, “Let it begin with me”. We can all make a difference.
xx
LikeLike
Well said. Thank you so much for stopping by and sharing your wisdom. I especially appreciate your call to action: “Let it begin with me.”
LikeLike
I am not intending to reduce the content of your inspiring quote, but when I see the above photo which unbelievably beautiful made me to say that it looks similar to the description of a paradise which is filled with peace. Thank you for this gift.
LikeLike
I am honoured by your comments. The butterflies were out that day but they didn’t stop long enough for me to take a shot. Happy New Year, my dear friend…
LikeLike
I have seen cartoons or short versions of A Christmas Carol and sometimes many of the words are left out. Dickens had so much to say to us. But maybe people just don’t want to read those words. I don’t know.
(just me with first reaction to the post…lol )
LikeLike
I agree completely with you! There are words and concepts that challenge and make us feel uncomfortable. Peace is not an easy discussion – it takes courage and sincerity.
LikeLike
“It isn’t enough to believe in it. One must work at it.” Perhaps the first thing we should do is examine to make sure peace is in our hearts. Then it will be easier to spread peace in our own unique way.
LikeLike
Amen! It is so easy to talk about “peace for the world” but more difficult to recognize that is all begins with “peace in our hearts.”
LikeLike
Perfect! Is that Butchart (sp?) Gardens?
LikeLike
It does look like Butchart! Actually it is Giverny. Despite the many visitors, there was a peaceful feeling throughout the garden. I felt that Monet would come down the pathway to greet us at any minute. Happy, Happy New Year, my dear friend….”
LikeLike