By Paula Langguth Ryan

Today, any news channel you turn on is ready to share with you images of war. If you were an alien observing our world, you'd be convinced that Armaggedon was at hand. As of today, there are 22 countries on our planet that are engaged in some sort of armed conflict. That's 22 out of 193, or a mere 11 percent. Who ever said that 10% doesn't make a difference, eh?

We have all at one time or another felt "attacked" in our lives, and sometimes it's easy to project those past feelings into the present. Other times, it's easy to hold the peace consciousness and remember that what is happening isn't happening to "us."

I'll be the first to admit that it is easy for me to hold the peace consciousness while looking at images of war on television. It's easy for me to recognize that I do not have to own someone else's experience and create grief of my own out of events that affected another. It's easy for me, in part, because I have never personally experienced a war zone.

I was not at Ground Zero when the World Trade Center towers went down, like some of my friends. I have never served on active military duty in combat like some of my friends. I have never experienced air raid sirens or bomb blasts in my backyard, like some of my friends. I do not know with certainty whether I would be able to hold that same consciousness of peace amidst rising fears for personal safety.

I don't think any of us knows for certain what we would do in such a situation. One dear woman I am proud to call my friend, however, has had such an opportunity. Eliana Gilad lives in Galilee, Israel. She has been a voice for peace and harmony in that region for years. As bombs fall around her, she is using the war as an opportunity to engage in a permanent eradication of her inner war.

As Eliana wrote in July: "Everything has changed over the last few weeks, since the beginning the war. My heart grieves with pain for the destruction being suffered on both sides of the border. War is a losing proposition. People lose their lives, their homes, their livelihood, and worst of all, their faith. I will not wait for governments to solve the problems. I have no control over them. I do have control over my own response. I choose to open my heart to what I find most difficult, distasteful and painful. I am learning compassion."

She offered up a prayer of healing: "Please forgive us our ignorance. Please forgive Nasrallah for sending the bombs into Israel destroying innocent lives and homes. Please forgive the Israeli army for destroying innocent lives and homes. Please forgive all of our hatred and fear, for we know not any better. Forgive me of my ignorance and hatred, beginning with my own self hatred. Teach me to only love. Let ME be the first to set down my weapons of war. Let ME be the first to live a shining example of the Highest Good. I am literally sick of pretending otherwise. Please let me sound YOUR voice only!"

And then Eliana began doing what she does best. She consciously began choosing peace and faith within herself, over war and fear. And she willingly and openly bared her soul and created a most astounding gift for this planet out of her experience of the war.

Eliana's book, Quiet in the Eye of the Storm: Living Peace in a War Zone is the most brilliant and lasting testament on the beauty and resilience of the human spirit that I have encountered since reading Victor Frankl's Man's Search for Meaning. Reading her book is like applying a permanently healing peace balm directly onto your heart. That's why I encourage you to read Eliana's letter in Readers on the Edge, and read her e-book. Say YES to becoming the peace that you were born to be. Say YES to life and all it has to offer. Saying YES will change your world!

A wonderful tool for creating lasting peace and prosperity in your life is the Art Of Abundance website and newsletter (www.artofabundance.com).

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