All Photos: Alan Mercer
“It isn’t enough to talk about peace, one must believe in it. And it isn’t enough to believe in it, one must work for it” Eleanor Roosevelt
It’s the time of year when we all come together and celebrate peace and love. Let’s do our very best to make this a year long commitment we can renew every year. I have always believed whatever you choose to focus on will come to pass so let’s choose peace and spread it throughout the world. May all of you have the best holiday season ever and bring peace, love and understanding to all you encounter. I, along with seven of my friends, and Phoebe the dove, wish you all a most peaceful and love filled year!
White Doves are used in a variety of settings as symbols of love, peace or as messengers. Doves appear in the symbology of Judaism and Christianity and of both military and pacifist groups. A dove was released by Noah after the flood in order to find land. It came back carrying an olive leaf in its beak, telling Noah that, somewhere, there was land. A dove also symbolizes the Holy Spirit, in reference to Matthew 3:16 and Luke 3:22 where the Holy Spirit is compared to a dove at the Baptism of Jesus. The early Christians in Rome incorporated into their funerary art the image of a dove carrying an olive branch, often accompanied by the word ‘Peace’. It was popularized by Pablo Picasso in 1949 and became widely used in the post-war peace movement.
The internationally recognized symbol for peace was originally designed for the British nuclear disarmament movement by Gerald Holtom in 1958. Holtom, an artist and designer, made it for a march from Trafalgar Square in London. The original design is housed in the Peace Museum in Bradford, England.
“There is no way to peace. Peace is the way” Reverend A.J. Muste
Phoebe and I wish you the best of Holidays and, especially, Peace on Earth. Let it begin now.
Namaste, Mamie Van Doren
"Better than a thousand hollow words is one word that brings peace." Buddha
“Imagine all the people living in a world of love” John Lennon
"May the peace of the season be with you and your family throughout the coming year!" Love George & Nancy Jones
“Peace begins with a smile.” Mother Theresa
"HAPPY HOLIDAY'S FROM HAPPILY DIVORCED!" Peter Marc Jacobson
“Peace cannot be kept by force. It can only be achieved by understanding” Albert Einstein
“My wish to you: Cherish life's treasures. What you are is God's gift to you. What you make of yourself is your gift to God. Peace on Earth.” Audrey Landers
“When you find peace within yourself, you become the kind of person who is at peace with others” Peace Pilgrim
"Happy holidays and blessings to everyone! Much love and best wishes for 2013!!" Brad Rowe
“God cannot give us a happiness and peace apart from Himself, because it is not there. There is no such thing.” C. S. Lewis
May the True Magic of the Holiday Season, reside in your Heart, all year long. Blessings, Erika Eleniak
“God has called us to walk in peace...to seek peace and pursue it” 1 Cor 7:15 PS 34:14
