A Wanderer for Peace: Quotes from Peace Pilgrim

As we think about peace this week, I wanted to share with you all the story and message of Peace Pilgrim.

Who was Peace Pilgrim?

In 1953, a woman calling herself "Peace Pilgrim" pledged to "remain a wanderer until mankind has learned the way of peace, walking until given shelter and fasting until given food." She gave up her name and all her material possessions, and carrying little more than the clothes on her back, she began to walk.

Peace Pilgrim walked more than 25,000 miles (she stopped counting after 25,000), and her journey carried her throughout the United States and parts of Canada. She spread her message of peace wherever she went, touching many, many lives, until her death in 1981. She inspires people to this day.

The following are quotes about peace from the book Peace Pilgrim: Her Life and Work in Her Own Words:

"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." (p.109)

"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)

I drew the above quotes from a Web site run by friends of Peace Pilgrim. At this site, you can read her book on-line (or order it for free), subscribe to the newsletter, read articles about her, and much more.

http://www.peacepilgrim.org/pphome.htm

-wildflower

I just listened to a radio interview she did in 1981

http://www.peacepilgrim.com/audio.htm

Wonderful stuff! It is inspriring to think about what she was up against and I'm awed by the faith it must have taken to do what she did.

The one recorded in Knox, below?



-wildflower

I liked hearing her live like that. It gives you more of a feeling for what she is saying and what she means.

One pet peeve, she wants to be called Peace Pilgrim and she doesn't want people to talk about her age. I wish the interviewer didn't feel like he had to badger her about it.

.

I wish I had. I've been wondering if anyone here has.

-wildflower

listen to or read some of Peace Pilgrim's words today.

-wildflower