Cyberweave - Mary Montgomery-Clifford

On September 11th, like millions of others throughout the world, I spent hours glued to TV news channels as scenes of indescribable horror unfolded before my eyes. My energy felt shattered and fragile. It would have been so easy to be sucked into the vortex of anger and fear--so easy to forget the lessons I've learned about using love rather than hate, and light rather than fear.

Personal meditation, as well as reaching out to and with others through activities like interfaith prayer vigils, helped. So, for the most part, did my contacts via e-mail on the Internet. There was some negative input, of course--especially from those forwarding dire warnings purported to be direct quotations from the prophecies of Nostradamus. I am happy to say I was able to calm many fears by directing people to a scholarly site at http://goto/prophecies. The site publishes passages in French and English with the disclaimer that "the quatrains are too vague to identify any event for sure. Nostradamus used past events to forecast the future ones."

Most of my personal messages and communication, however, was of a very positive sort. One e-mail contained a poem by Thich Nhat Hahn with the memorable words: "...Even as they strike you down with a mountain of hatred and violence; even as they step on you and crush you, remember, brother, remember: man is not your enemy. The only thing worthy of you is compassion—invincible, limitless, unconditional." Another e-mail reminded me that Islam is a religion of peace and provided several quotes from the Qur'an including this one: "...take not life, which God hath made sacred, except by way of justice and law: Thus doth He command you, that ye may learn wisdom."

E-mail was used as a calming force in more public venues as well. For example, the MTV special program on Friday, September 14th focused on the need for tolerance and love and featured e-mail messages from young people around the world. These messages can be viewed (or added to) at http://www.mtv.com/ournewreality/. Here are some examples:

"The only way that we will survive this tribulation is to work, live, and love together." -- Marie, Lake Wales, FL

"I've sat for almost a week now trying to find a way to explain my feelings. All I could think of was, man, there are some sick people. But also, I've seen the love and strength that make people shine. It also made me see just how much love there is, more than hate, in our nation. If we could just work on the hate, that would make us that much stronger." -- Mike, Indianapolis, IN.

"I hope that we can show the world and future generations that September 11, 2001 is the day hate taught America to love." -- Andrea, San Antonio, TX.

P.S.: It should be noted that the messages at the MTV site range over a broad spectrum of opinion. However, they all provide a good deal of food for thought.

E-mail also provided opportunities for action. The one that has become a groundswell in terms of folks forwarding to other folks information is the Million Prayer March, which is being organized by James Twyman. In order to participate, simply go to PrayersofPeace.com and add your prayer. The idea is to collect one million prayers that will be personally delivered by Twyman when he travels to Afghanistan in November or December to hold a worldwide prayer vigil for peace. The vigil will be sponsored by a spiritual organization in either Afghanistan or Pakistan.

The plan may sound like a fantasy, but he has gone into the thick of things in Bosnia, Kosovo and East Timor with absolute impunity. If anyone can pull off a peace vigil in Afghanistan, that person is Jimmy Twyman. The goal of the project is to have the ability to mobilize millions of people almost instantaneously to use the power of prayer to bring peace. It's a worthwhile goal that deserves our support.

Do you have a favorite spiritual or personal growth Web site that you'd like me to review? Please drop me an e-mail at Monty764@aol.com. And remember, I also want to hear your story about how the Internet and the World Wide Web have impacted your journey toward self-realization. A short e-mail questionnaire is available by contacting Monty764@aol.com. Just fill it out and e-mail it back. Your contribution will help me complete my Spirituality & the Internet Research Project and, in turn, will help others who are undertaking a similar pilgrimage.

Mary Montgomery-Clifford is a certified web author and developer. Her company, Montgomery Media Enterprises ("Freelancing with Finesse!"), specializes in public relations, events, promotions, writing project and web authoring, development and publicity. Ms. Montgomery-Clifford is currently studying for a Master's Degree with an emphasis on inter-religious studies at the Chicago Theological Seminary and is in the process of completing the Morris Pratt Institute Course on Modern Spiritualism. Contact her via e-mail at Monty764@aol.com, by phone at 773-235-8821 or at her web site at www.montymedia.com

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