United Prayers Across America
A National Prayer Project to Awaken the Sleeping Giant

Conference Call #18

Peace

Marie Wilson

April 17, 2006

Welcome, everyone. I am happy to share a prayer and story written by the person known to many as "Peace Pilgrim":

Peace Pilgrim

It was in 1953 that I felt guided, or called, or motivated to begin my pilgrimage for peace in the world—a journey undertaken traditionally. The tradition of pilgrimage is a journey undertaken on foot and on faith, prayerfully and as an opportunity to contact people. I wear a lettered tunic in order to contact people. It says 'PEACE PILGRIM' on the front. I feel that's my name now—it emphasizes my mission instead of me. And on the back it says, "25,000 MILES ON FOOT FOR PEACE." The purpose of the tunic is merely to make contacts for me. Constantly as I walk along the highways and through the cities, people approach me and I have a chance to talk with them about peace.

I have walked 25,000 miles as a penniless pilgrim. I own only what I wear and what I carry in my small pockets. I belong to no organization. I have said that I will walk until given shelter and fast until given food, remaining a wanderer until mankind has learned the way of peace. And I can truthfully tell you that without ever asking for anything, I have been supplied with everything needed for my journey, which shows you how good people really are.

With me I carry always my peace message: This is the way of peace: Overcome evil with good, falsehood with truth, and hatred with love. There is nothing new about this message, except the practice of it. And the practice of it is required not only in the international situation but also in the personal situation. I believe that the situation in the world is a reflection of our own immaturity. If we were mature, harmonious people, war would be no problem whatever—it would be impossible. All of us can work for peace. We can work right where we are, right within ourselves, because the more peace we have within our own lives, the more we can reflect into the outer situation. In fact, I believe that the wish to survive will push us into some kind of uneasy world peace which will then need to be supported by a great inner awakening if it is to endure. I believe we entered a new age when we discovered nuclear energy, and that this new age calls for a new renaissance to lift us to a higher level of understanding so that we will be able to cope with the problems of this new age. So, primarily my subject is peace within ourselves as a step toward peace in our world.

Our Fear

There’s no greater block to world peace or inner peace than fear. What we fear we tend to develop an unreasoning hatred for, so we come to hate and fear. This not only injures us psychologically and aggravates world tension, but through such negative concentration we tend to attract the things we fear. If we fear nothing and radiate love, we can expect good things to come. How much this world needs the message and example of love and of faith!

Working for Peace

A few really dedicated people can offset the ill effects of masses of out-of-harmony people, so we who work for peace must not falter. We must continue to pray for peace and to act for peace in whatever way we can. We must continue to speak for peace and to live the way of peace; to inspire others, we must continue to think of peace and to know it is possible. What we dwell upon we help to bring into manifestation. One little person, giving all of her time to peace, makes news. Many people, giving some of their time, can make history!

Marie Wilson lives in Sacramento, California, where she works as a Wellness Coach, Nutritional Counselor and Intuitive Reader.

Marie has been especially inspired by John of God, a spiritual healer whose practice is in Brazil. She visited John of God in Atlanta, Georgia, during his recent trip to that area where thousands of people made a pilgrimage to see him. Marie herself had a powerful personal healing experience during this trip. During the summer of 2006, she co-led a group of people to see John of God in Brazil. Marie has also been inspired and guided by the philosophy and example of Peace Pilgrim, a woman who journeyed across America on foot to promote the cause of Peace.

Marie has been a long-time supporter of Philip Burley’s work through organizing seminars and book sales to increase public awareness of Philip’s gifts as a professional medium and spiritual teacher. Her own intuitive experiences have confirmed the importance of this prayer project and sustained prayer for America and the world.