Brian’s Reflection: Monday, July 20, 2009

Five enemies of peace inhabit with us –
avarice, ambition, envy, anger, and pride;
if these were to be banished, we should
infallibly enjoy perpetual peace.

- Petrarch, Italian scholar & poet, born
on this date, 1304.


I rather think that Petrarch – and countless people like him throughout recorded “history” – have said the same thing with a shake of the head and a sigh. It will never, in my opinion, be so. Ever. Not universally.

We can only start with ourselves. We must be working on being free of those five things, in our own hearts. The problem we have in the World today is that most of the people seeking Peace are at war within. And the blind cannot lead the blind. I cannot think of any World political leader who is so personally free of Petrarch’s characterizations that she or he is free to work for true Peace. [Care to nominate anyone?] We are all at each others’ throats, many just to survive – some of us at a much higher level than others.

One heart at a time. Day by day. Gently, firmly banishing avarice, ambition, envy, anger, pride. It won’t happen for a long time. But we must start again, somewhere.

Brian+