My grandfather took me to the fish pond on the farm early one morning
when I was about seven, and he told me to throw a stone into the water.
He told me to watch the circles created by the stone. Then he asked me
to think of myself as that stone person.
"You may create lots of splashes in your life but the waves that come
from those splashes will disturb the peace of all your fellow
creatures," he said. "Remember that you are responsible for what you put
in your circle and that circle will also touch many other circles. You
will need to live in a way that allows the good that comes from your
circle to send the peace of that goodness to others. The splash that
comes from anger or jealousy will send those feelings to other circles.
You are responsible for both."
That was the first time I realized each person creates the inner peace
or discord that flows out into the world. We cannot create world peace
if we are riddled with inner conflict, hatred, doubt, or anger. We
radiate the feelings and thoughts that we hold inside, whether we speak
them or not. Whatever is splashing around inside of us is spilling out
into the world, creating beauty or discord with all other circles of
life.
