During a recent 8th grade winter concert the choral group performed the 70’s hit song "One Tin Soldier." The choral instructor mentioned that, while the song is not typically concert material, "One Tin Soldier" was a favourite song of the group and the children asked her to let them sing it at the concert.
In 1973 when One Tin Soldier was one of the most requested songs on the airwaves, I was in jr. high myself, and, indeed, it was my favourite song too. One Tin Soldier tells the story of a kingdom on a mountain that is said to have a buried treasure located beneath a stone. The mountain people promise to share their treasure with the valley folk below, but the greed of the valley people leads them into a bloody battle in order to win the treasure for themselves. In the end, when the mountain people have been killed and the stone is turned, there is no material wealth to be found, simply the words – Peace on Earth.
The irony was not lost on me. At the young age of 13, I was drawn to the message that came to us toward the end of the Vietnam era. At the time I had an uncle who had served in Viet Nam and while he returned with a beautiful doll for me, I knew the numbers of men just like my uncle who did not return. I prayed for peace.
Our search for peace is timeless. And yet it appears that the older we become the less we identify with our need for peace. While we were taught to share as children, society tends to mold us into “competitors” that often feel the need to win it all for themselves whatever the cost. Many of us lose the ability to live creatively as we continue to make the choice to charge into the battles on our playing fields, wanting to obliterate those who stand in our way, competing for first place rather than creating our own place.
There is no simple answer to the world’s wars, but it is certain that they can never end until we address our own personal wars. Addressing these wars is never an easy task, we tend to avoid such inner conflict by convincing our self that there are no viable options, but when we open our minds, accept our shadow side, and truly begin the work of self reflection, we can remember how to create our own life, a life that holds greater abundance with less chaos. Choosing to seek healing and guidance is a wonderful beginning and intuitives, coaches or counselors are there to assist you. Remember, however, that you make your own choices and it is you who will decide just how you are going to create your life. Take each moment and choose to live it.
Peace – let it begin with you.
