Dude, chill. What would Jesus do?

My world is a strange one.  I'm a peacemaker.  I'm a rebel.  I'm an activist.   

I'm a Warrioress bringing light to a shifting world.  Sounds exciting, huh?  Woooo!  

I can be very passionate about injustices and have always favored the underdog. 

My heart aches when I see others being hurt.  In any way.  

My passion will always be a part of me, I'm a Leo fer cryin' out loud! :)

That being said, I also embrace the idea of "letting that shit go".  So many of the things we busy our minds with...trivial shit.  
Stuff that is soooo not worth our time and energy.  
Dude, relax.

Yet, I would ask this question.  Does smiling, nodding, focusing only on love n' light, and praying *really* create more peace on earth?  It helps, yes, but there is no enlightenment in a situation without actually understanding it.  

Denying its existence does not help.

Think about the word enlightenment.  en·light·en·ment - noun: the state of having knowledge or understanding : the act of giving someone knowledge or understanding

Yes!  That's what I want!  Bring on the enlightenment!  Let's talk, bring awareness, and shed light on issues and ideas.  One small crack allows the Light to enter, right?  What better way to bring knowledge and understanding.  

I have found myself in several conversations 
over the past few months about Jesus. 

 I was raised a Christian, but left organized religion years ago.

I'm too much of a hippie who believes that we're all connected, One and equal.  

Sometimes it seems religion gets in the way of that belief and causes division. 

My personal observation.  

But, the way I understand how Jesus walked the earth, he was not a man who complied with the masses.  His ideas pissed people off.  He spoke up for the less fortunate.  He made people very uncomfortable with new ideas of loving everyone as your equal.  He didn't keep his thoughts and opinions to himself.  He was vocal.  He was strong in his belief and walked with incredible authenticity.  He didn't hate others because they didn't follow him, he just did his thing.  He did *not* try to convert anyone or judge them for not believing as he did.  

He just lived his personal truth.  Walked his talk.  

Some people really dug that!  The masses HATED it.  How empowered he was!  Who does this guy think he is?  People are questioning what they've been taught and told!  He must be silenced.  What is it in our world that we always wanna silence the peacemakers?  C'mon!

Jesus loved and accepted the ones that others said were unlovable and unacceptable.  

He was not always peaceful and was certainly not apathetic.  

When he saw injustice, he spoke up and stood up for what felt right in his heart.  

I also think that if he saw what organized religion has done in his name, 

he'd be more than a little disgusted.  

Wow, the hate and intolerance we see sometimes in the name of being a good Christian.  

Probably not what the peace-loving, brown-skinned, Jewish hippie had in mind when he talked of loving your brother. Yikes.

Really, what I want is to walk every day a little more like the enlightened, wise ones.  

Jesus.  Buddha.  Krishna.  So many others.  

Empowered.  Strong.  Sure of self.  Unconcerned with popular opinion.

I know so very little in the greater scope.  But, we're always seeking a greater self awareness, huh?  

Will I stop being strong, vocal, Mama Lisa?  Will I stop having passionate posts and rants?  

Not very likely.  

I have found for me that is comes down to one thing:  

How can *I* create more peace on Earth?  

Does being silent and not sharing an opinion create more peace on Earth?  

Does apathy create more peace on Earth?  

Does turning a cheek on atrocity and not having a dialogue about it create more peace on Earth?  Does laughing at a racially charged joke because everyone else is laughing create more peace on Earth?  

Does hating another religion or belief system because you were not born into it and do not understand it create more peace on Earth?  

I've decided to live by this simple test.  

When I have a thought, idea or opinion...what will create more peace on earth?  

Swallowing it?  Letting it stew inside that I *should* have said something?  Obsessing over what I could have said?  What will create more peace on Earth (within myself)?  

Will sharing that thought, idea, or opinion create more peace on Earth (within myself)?  

Have I spoken with authenticity?  Does my opinion harm anyone?  Does it make others uncomfortable and am I okay with that? 

Sometimes...I can let shit go, because it genuinely will bring more peace on Earth (within myself) if I choose to be silent.  Sometimes...I can't let shit go, because my heart speaks so loudly I have to express its contents.  To create awareness.  To create dialogue.  To create change.  

Within myself, and that will be reflected by creating a more aware world.

A more enlightened world, filled with knowledge and understanding.

I'm going to keep on keepin' on.  Doing my thing.  If folks like it, they like it.  If they don't, that's okay too.  I'm not here to appease anyone, I'm here to expand my own awareness and create more peace on Earth.  I'm doing better today than I did yesterday.  I'll keep on doing that.