Lao Tzu wrote this poem as part of his work many centuries ago. The hard work of transforming life begins internally and closest to home. Sabbath practice and the mindfulness that comes with it are essential ingredients to living life in a fuller, honest, and moment-to-moment way.
We only bring peace to the world when there is peace in our hearts. From there, we gradually move outwards and the ripple effects are felt gradually first in our home, then our communities, cities, in our nations, and finally in the world. It is not the work of one person and one life time, but the work of many and many life times.
In this rippling, leading is not leading others as much as it is leading my self in the world and touching others with new-found peace.
If there is to be peace in the world,
There must be peace in the nations.
If there is to be peace in the nations,
There must be peace in the cities.
If there is to be peace in the cities,
There must be peace between neighbors.
If there is to be peace between neighbors,
There must be peace in the home.
If there is to be peace in the home,
There must be peace in the heart.
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About ivonprefontaine
In keeping with bell hooks and Noam Chomsky, I consider myself a public and dissident intellectual. Part of my work is to move beyond (transcend) institutional dogmas that bind me to defend freedom, raising my voice to be heard on behalf of those who seek equity and justice in all their forms.
I completed my PhD in Philosophy of Leadership Studies at Gonzaga University, Spokane, WA. My dissertation and research was how teachers experience becoming teachers and their role as leaders.
I focus on leading, communicating, and innovating in organizations. This includes mindfuful servant-leadership, World Cafe events, Appreciative Inquiry, and expressing one's self through creativity. I offer retreats, workshops, and presentations that can be tailored to your organzations specific needs.
I published peer reviewed articles about schools as learning organizations, currere as an ethical pursuit, and hope as an essential element of adult eductaion. I published three poems and am currently preparing my poetry to publish as an anthology of poetry.
I present on mindful leadership, servant leadership, schools as learning organizations, how teachers experience becoming teachers, assessement, and critical thinking. I facilitate mindfulness, hospitality retreats. and World Cafe Events using Appreciative Inquiry.
I am writing and researching about various forms of leadership, how teachers inform and form their identity as a particular teacher, schools as learning organizations, hope and its anticipatory relationship with the future, and hope as an essential element in learning.
Teacher as Transformer 
trying it now with the deep aspiration
that it ripples through my neighborhood, thanks! 🙂
Peace and love begin in the intimate spaces closest to us and move outward as soft ripples. You are welcome.
Thank you for the inspiring words!
Thank you and you are welcome Amy.
A great reminder. Thanks
Thank you Elizabeth and you are welcome.
beautifully written..peace …
Thank you and peace in return.
So awesome and true! I love this!
Thank you for the comment.
You are welcome.
Most definitely the bottom line.
It is.
Reblogged this on Maryum'sInnerArt.
Thank you for the re-blog Mary. It is much appreciated.
You are most welcome ! 🙂
Reblogged this on aksharaalu – Best Collections.
We only bring peace to the world when there is peace in our hearts…………very message oriented lyrics. thanks for posting
with regards
Thank you for a beautiful comment and the re-blog. You are welcome. Take care.
I enjoyed this post very much Ivon. I celebrate the power of ripples and the importance of every peace-filled heart and home. We really all do make a tremendous difference, and finding our own inner peace really matters for the whole world. Beautiful post my friend. Thank you for sharing it. Namaste. Gina
Take care Gina.