Houston, Texas, USA.  P.K. McCary
  

The International Day of Peace in the Texas/Louisiana areas saw millions of individuals on the road fleeing to safety from the onslaught of Hurricane Rita.

Those of us who were safe (I was in a safe area with my daughter and her friends), decided to hold the "heart" of Rita in prayer. We asked for compassion from Rita and offered that we understood her rage and need for the impending carnage, but we asked that she seek the way of peace.

Now many may think it foolish to talk to a storm, but in reality we were talking to the heart of the earth that encompasses all of us. We are not out of hurricane season and some have predicted at least one or two more storms the strength of both Katrina and Rita. I'm praying that this not be the case, but if we are again in the path of another storm (be it female or male named), my hope is that we all join in prayer to speak to the heart of them. I'm so grateful for the help I've received from around the globes (resources and prayers) for the Katrina survivors.

I've many stories to tell. Some wonderful ones and some tragic ones. But, I think what has been the best part of the storms have been witnessing the courageous, the compassionate, the grace under which I've watched people work. I also witnessed a very fundamentalist, often-times faith intolerant person, open his doors to Hindus, Muslims, and others to put their energies into helping people. I think his heart has been changed. I've watched frustration and anger turn into teamwork and an effort towards resolution. Our peace week may have been dampened by post-Katrina and pre-Rita storms, but the Decade of Non-Violence Houston had a successful conference (more than 71 attended) on the 17^th  of September, we gave a peace pole to the City of Houston on the 20th of September, and some very wonderful meetings and events DID take place.

There is still work to do. I see it unfolding in ways we could never have IMAGINED, but we must imagine it to be realized. Remember, the tag line for the next half of this Decade of the new millennium. This Decade can become a time when the impossible becomes possible, the possible becomes probable, and the probable becomes inevitable. We're building a culture of peace one heart at a time! I love you all. Again, thank you. P.K. McCary