Does anyone out there remember when John Lennon suggested that we “Give peace a chance?” If you are under 60, ask your grandpa. He’ll know. Or if grandpa is gone, ask me. I know, and some of us are out there beating the same old drum.

There is no one who would disagree that peace is a good thing, except maybe Attila the Hun and some of those deceased nuisances. It is a good idea, and its time has come.

I became interested in World Peace Gardens when I read in the paper that Daniel Pettegrew and Janice Brooks-Nichter were running the operation. Both of them are friends of mine. Daniel is a mystic, a deep thinker who can turn thought to action. Janice is a mover and a shaker. If you want something done – anything – convince Jan that it is a good idea, and she will take over and move it forward.

World Peace Gardens is a work in progress. There is no written plan published with copies handed out. The main requirement is that you are serious about giving peace a chance. All observations and suggestions are welcome and considered.

The meetings, held Sundays at 11:00 at Green Valley Spa, have a generous and welcoming attitude.

I go way back. I am probably the senior old hippie present. The ideas promoted at these gatherings as familiar to me. You need to be at peace with yourself. If you are not, maybe we can help you become so. You need to share love and kindness to all around you. Bit by bit, person by person, if everyone embraces peace, proselytes and practices, others will see it and want to come aboard.

To demonstrate that there are many roads to peace, at our meeting last week, a medicine woman named Feather made small bags filled with herbs brought in by participants. The fragrant bags are for use when you get all buggered-up. Just smell your bag, and it can relieve your tension.

A young man named Taylor Stuart, age 14, made peace symbols out of clay, rock, and plants, and distributed them to the people. Some are to be used as necklaces or pins, and some as decorations and reminders of what we are trying to do.

Glass artist Cheryl Collins came to the meeting to share some of her excellent work, which includes the “Healing Towers” in front of the IHC Hospital. These are ancient and modern symbols for healing, both beautiful and moving. She has also created mandalas for the Kayenta Labyrinth – soothing, peaceful, beautiful works for you to contemplate as you walk the labyrinth.

Over time, there have been peace initiatives with modest success. Remember the Greek ladies who took action when the men were gone to war? After war, the men would come home to wash their underwear and sharpen their swords, and then they were gone again. It took some cooperation and decisive action by the women, but their plan worked – for a while. The idea was to deny any conjugal relations to the men until they quit going to war and stuck around home and did all the honey-dos that had accumulated over time.  It worked because men are… well, men; but it failed in the long-run because coercion just doesn’t pay off.

A feature of our meetings – open to everyone – is the talking circle. In the circle you say what is on your mind, what bothers you or what you need help with. Axe-grinding is not allowed. Debates are not encouraged, as in pro-life vs. pro-choice. Euphemisms are encouraged. Putting the best possible face on your concerns and goals is a good thing. The positive is what we are after – seeing the best, keeping our eyes up and thoughts clear of hatred, envy or discord.

It is a proven scientific fact that kind thoughts, generous actions, and acceptance of others are good for your mental health. One is not required to agree with the views of others, but allowing them to exist is essential. Then, maybe, you will be given an opportunity to help those carrying the burden of harmful emotions to experience the world in a different way.

If you want to give peace a chance, please come and see how we do it.

This column is provided by World Peace Gardens, a non-profit organization promoting oneness and world peace. World Peace Gardens meets every Sunday at Green Valley Spa in St. George starting at 11AM at 1871 Canyon View Drive. For more information log onto the website at: www.WorldPeaceGardens.org