Instruments of peace

Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love. -Saint Francis of Assisi

When we ask to be made instruments of peace, what we are really asking for is the boundless determination to empty ourselves of every state of mind that disrupts relationships- anger, resentment, jealousy, greed, self-will in any form.
Our first priority is to reform ourselves; without that, how can we expect to help other people reform themselves? It is the living example of a man or woman giving all they have to making love a reality that moves our hearts to follow. We do not need a bumper sticker that says,"You are following an instrument of the Lord."
Our everyday actions speak for themselves. ~ Easwaran

The picture above is of the "baby" our Essential Self, beginning to grow, with the help of the Spirit, who is embodied like a Mother. I really love this image.
When EE says "our first priority is to reform ourselves", it seems to me that it is our first priority to let go, realizing that I cannot "do" it, and to become open to allow the Spirit the freedom to transform my small self--so that my conditioned, mechanical personality is passive and Essence, or the True, Real Self, which is the abode of the Source of All, can radiate through my outward life and become more and more active.
May it be so today.

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