of his untimely death at the hands of a deluded and psychotic Mark Chapman. If John were around today he'd be one of the first to acknowledge that peace is still a long way away, maybe even further than when he were alive. Lennon also stated in his Christmas song "Happy Xmas (war is over)" that "war is over, if you want it" - indicating that it is all of us together as human beings that have a choice. At Christmas time more than ever people take stock of their lives, their situations and their aims for the future. After all the whole essence of Christmas is about peace (yes and love Ringo) stemming from the arrival of Jesus Christ to cleanse us of our sins and show us the righteous path to salvation. However Jesus, like Lennon, would also note the sheer distance we all are from peace in todays world, from the wars being fought sporadically on Jesus' doorstep in Jerusalem and the ongoing conflicts in Afghanistan to the gangland cultures in most jurisdictions. It is the people responsible for and involved with such misery on this Planet that we all want the message of peace to reach the most. Can I see it happening anytime soon? The unfortunate answer is no, I can't. Throughout history there have been many people wanting to dominate and oppress others and as we all know it would take a titanic effort to change the mindsets of people who see power, at any means, as their birthright. Yet I don't want to leave this on a pessimistic note so I won't! Instead I'll leave you with a thought provoking quote from the philosopher and author Ralph Waldo Trine:“To be at one with God is to be at peace ...peace is to be found only within, and unless one finds it there he will never find it at all. Peace lies not in the external world. It lies within one's own soul."
As this is probably my last blog of the year may I take this opportunity of wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and good luck for 2009.
Nick
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