Children of the World, We Hear You!

Gently get into a quiet, meditative Soul Space of healing power.

We need some help
Down here on earth
A thousand prayers
A million words
But one voice was heard

Excerpt from lyrics of “One Voice” by 13 year old Billy Gillman

Copyright Ó Billy Gillman.

The children of the world are crying out for peace and for an end to violence and war.  Are we listening?  We need to support them in their dreams and allay their fears by taking responsible action whenever and in whatever way we can.  Their cries are heart wrenching…  For we are destroying their world – and who will help them but us?  Listen…

These are their hopes…

“My hope for the future is PEACE!!! it's just one word but it's so hard to make it come true!”

- Indira (age 15) from Bosnia, May 18, 2001

"See the smile on all the children faces."

- Buthaina, (age 18) from Bahrain, 2001

“I hope that one day the world will finally be at peace. One day, all nations will be in alliegance (did I spell that right?) with each other.”

- Shannon S. (age 14) from Turkey, June 19, 2001

These are their fears…

“I fear our world will collapse. That things will get worse.. I fear for children, people I fear for everyone.. Pollution, the environment, I fear for people's lives.”

- Laura W. (age 17) from Australia, April 20, 2001

"That we will never learn from our mistakes!!!"

- Niamh O’G. (age 15) from Ireland, April 19, 2001

“That love will be obsolete.”

- Nneka M. H. (age 17) from Jamaica, May 6, 2001

“My biggest fear, is that something will go wrong. There is so much war in the world today, it is sometimes hard to see the light! But I believe that it is there, because the light is in us!”

- Anna N. (age 15) from Denmark, July 5, 2001

And these are their solutions…

“Everyone must start in their own little way to achieve world peace, it's ok to start small because it will eventually grow and it doesn't matter how long it took you to do it, what's important is that you have done something.”

- Mary J. Y. (age 15) from the Philippines, 2001

“I am 16 years old and I live in Israel. My last mission was to try to get in touch with a girl from Ramallah and talk about our differences and try to find a solution. We wanted it to be broadcasted. It didn't work because she was too frighten to speak up…”

- Anonymous, 2001

"Accept each other for who they are!"

- Lizzy S. (age 17) from the Netherlands. May 14, 2001

“We can stop polluting and cutting natures life apart. WE can make a deal to make peace.”

- Max P. (age 9) from USA. May 9, 2001

“We are asking you to put down your guns and sit in a room with your enemies. We are pleading you to do all that is in your power to make our world a safe and peaceful place in which to grow, live, love and enjoy.”

- Lannie M. (age 16) from New Zealand, in a letter to the Middle East Leaders.

And now, let us pray,
Differently, yet together,
Before there is no earth, no life,
No chance for peace.

Excerpt from a poem entitled “For our World” by 11 year old poet and peacemaker, Mattie J.T. Stepanek
September 12, 2001

Copyright Ó Mattie Stepanek.

And so on this special international holiday called “One Day in Peace” that the children fought so long and hard for, let us focus the light of our love on our precious youth, that their dreams for freedom and a safe,  peaceful future will become a reality in their lifetime.

"We cannot waste our precious children.
Not another one, not another day."
Nelson Mandela and Graça Machel,

The Global Movement for Children

As we join our hearts together, know that powerful beacons of Light and Love will shine forth into the world, will join those from others of like intent, and be directed to those in greatest need on our beloved planet.

As we each prepare for the moment, let the mood be one of unconditional love…

…and May the Force be with us! J

Please light your candles (optional) and commence with the following peace poem:

Today, we hold the vision that peace will prevail throughout our world,

just for this one day.

We hold the vision that the world’s children

will no longer have to live in fear, anguish and hopelessness,

And that their cries will be heard by all of us.

May we all listen and act from our hearts,

And may our responses and actions be so powerful,

That the children will feel our caring reverberate in the core of their beings

as we stand and say:

“Children of the World, we hear you!”

We hold the vision that world leaders will have the courage

To respond with compassion to the spoken and written pleas

of the children of the world,

And to act from their Center of Self to graciously make children

equal partners in forging the world of tomorrow.

May we embody forbearance, wisdom and love

As we actively move towards peaceful resolutions, unequivocally upholding

human rights,

And eradicating fear and violence from our beings.

We envision a global growing awareness of our children’s hopes, fears and solutions,

May this awareness grow, touching all our hearts, until the entire world is committed

To leaving our children a legacy of peace and harmonious living.

Today, we hold the vision that peace will prevail throughout our world,

just for this one day,

and then another, until the children of the world do not cry out in fear anymore.

 After this introductory vision/meditation/prayer, please express your own vision of peace. (As always, please feel free to modify the peace poem, or to use your own.)

Please close your peace session with the extinguishing of the candle.

________________________________

The inspiration for this Peace Circle comes from 12 year old Gregory R. Smith, a child prodigy and founder of International Youth Advocates.  He is the Youth Spokesperson for the World Centers of Compassion for Children and is dedicated to peace and to helping the world’s children. http://www.gregoryrsmith.com/

More information can be found at the website http://www.oneday.net.

January 1, 2002