I'd like to continue last month's theme of dissolving the walls of separation and truly being instruments of peace. In James Hillman's groundbreaking book "We've Had a Hundred Years of Psychotherapy and The World's Getting Worse" he gives us a clue as to how to make this happen. He says we have instant communications with anyone in the world, yet we don't even know our neighbors; and that by not knowing our neighbors, this is a profound form of disrespect, both to our neighbors and to ourselves.

When we don't get to know people, when we don't reach out to make a connection, it makes it easy to keep building the wall of separation. When we dismiss someone because of their differences by saying "oh, you're just a ____ " - you fill in the blank - then we are in effect killing them. We're saying who you are and what you have to say don't fit with my beliefs, therefore, you don't matter.

So what is our task here, no, rather, what is our responsibility to be an instrument of peace? It is to reach out to others, to get to know them. Whether it be in our neighborhood, our community, our workplace, our nation, our world, it only takes a small gesture to reach out and say "hi". By reaching out to another, they can see who we are. This is how we break down stereotypes and walls of separation. We see the other person as a human being, with needs and desires and hopes just as we have. By reaching out, we can connect our heart and mind, and rather than analyzing who this person is, we can see them as another wonderful soul on this planet. By reaching out to those who, on the surface, appear to be different, we can get past the stereotypes.

Last month I asked how we prevent another 9-11 event, and as I see it, the way is to get to know and connect with as many people as we can. Go to cultural events and learn about what is important in other people's lives. Let others know what is important in your life, exchange ideas. I know this seems a daunting task, perhaps too much work. I leave you with the words of Marco Caceres - "Remember, every storm must begin with a single drop of rain. And so it is with every worthwhile movement ... it begins with an idea that is too simple to be taken seriously...and then comes the storm." And so it is with us . . peace begins with a simple gesture towards another human being. No one can do it for me, I have to make the effort, peace begins with me.

(first published Dallas Peace Times, October 2008. www.DallasPeaceCenter.org)