I’m certain neither the song nor the sentiment “Let There Be Peace On Earth and Let It Begin With Me” has nothing to do with beer.
The song’s sheet music includes this story:
“One summer evening in 1955, a group of 180 teenagers of all races and religions, meeting at a workshop high in the California mountains, locked arms, formed a circle and sang a song of peace. They felt that singing the song, with its simple basic sentiment – “Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me,” helped to create a climate for world peace and understanding.
file://localhost/Users/ilina/Pictures/iPhoto%20Library/Originals/2012/Oct%2027,%202012/DSC_0214.JPGWhen they came down from the mountain, these inspired young people brought the song with them and started sharing it. And, as though on wings, “Let There Be Peace On Earth” began an amazing journey around the globe.”
Every generation bears witness to various injustices and horrors. The onslaught of recent events has me admittedly feeling that times are particularly tumultuous right now. There are hardships and heartbreaks that make my blood boil from all corners of our planet. A recent story from my own zip code to points across the globe have me feeling defeated and pessimistic.
Just when I feel like curling up under a blanket with headphones and a pile of John Hughes movie, I remember that the pain of the world is not enough to usurp the promise. I see the promise everyday in my own sons, in the children I tutor, in the generosity of my friends, in the spirit of my community. Yet it’s so easy to wallow in what ails us. We mustn’t let the darkness consume us. Oh, I sound so treacly preachy, don’t I? It’s just that I’ve been a glass-half-full person my whole life and am trying to shift that mindset. There are simple ways to turn things around. A smile exchanged with a stranger. A walk through puddles with my dog. Ice cream sundaes for dinner (come on, once in a while is just fine). A beer with a friend.
Today, this International Day of Happiness, I’m celebrating peace and the people who make me happy. I can’t think of a better libation than Lonerider’s Peacemaker Pale Ale.