Songbird

Watching television this weekend has made me feel like I’m living in parallel universes.

In one universe, there’s a cacophony of holiday commercials filled with families enjoying resplendent festivities complete with elves and flying reindeer, matching plaid pajamas, and joyful imbibing. In the other, there’s a diabolical holocaust trapped under peaceless skies fraught with flying missiles hurtling toward families praying to heaven. Collateral damage, the leaders say. Here, I can’t take my eyes off the man outside a hospital on his knees, wailing and pounding his fists into the pavement, begging for the nightmare to end. One universe seems to be unaware of the other. Or, there is pure detachment.

I can’t help but think that we have it all wrong. What if our sacred cows aren’t sacred after all? What if all those things we hold near and dear, like political parties, religions, and deep pockets are false gods? And what if those things the world revolves around, like capitalism, artificial intelligence, crypto, medals of honor, and missiles are fool’s gold? What if, when we meet our maker, the only thing that truly matters turns out to be something genuine and sincere like love? What if that’s the only thing that counts when your life is measured? What would your score card look like?

This Sunday, in my ongoing pledge “Listening For Peace,” I’m choosing to share my favorite rendition of “Songbird” (sung here by Eva Cassidy) and written by Christine McVie. According to McVie, the song came into her head at 3:30 in the morning as if she was being visited by someone, or something. Whatever it was, it carried a message of love into the world. She said it was not written for any one person, but was universal and written for anyone and everyone.

Genuine love brings peace into our hearts. Telling people we love them brings peace. Sharing your heart through acts of kindness and generosity brings peace. Believing you are loved—and worthy of love—brings peace. Being in tune with the invisible love surrounding and speaking to you also brings peace. Acting on these truths will fill you with peace. When we all have peace, the world will finally have peace. It’s that simple, if only people will believe it.