The team awoke to another pleasant Nova Scotia morning.
Half of the team went to the Arunchala Ashram on Sunday morning. They meditate from 9 to 10 am every morning consisting of listening to chanting and silence. It is a very peaceful, beautiful space devoted to Ramana Mahashiri with a very special statue of the master in the temple.
Darlene welcomed us and later Dennis came. They have both frequented India and visited Arunachala as well as their New York chapter which is very close to the Peace Run head office! Dennis recalls meeting Sri Chinmoy there.
After the meditation they offered tea and cookies and homemade cake. It was a wonderful stop and really nice meeting two sincere devotees who shared the torch and peace.
We were stopped on the road by Hope and Charlie who were happy to hold the torch and have a quick chat.
We ran through the streets of Halifax led by local Peace Runner, Satyata.
At the Halifax Grammar School we had a ceremony in their beautiful entrance which was decorated with "mixed flags" that were created as an art project blending the cultural backgrounds of the students.
We introduced the team with our usual guessing game. These students really knew their geography!
Geurin Kim and Kyla Heslop collaborated on a poem, they took turns reading it line by line.
Words of Peace
Peace is always there, Sometimes we ignore it, Taking it is rare, A bottomless pit, But there comes a shine of hope, It’s just a glimmer, One you can grope, But if you don’t look the light goes dimmer, But if you follow the path, Towards the shining star, You won’t find wrath, And you’ll go far, Let this be a message to the people in need, PEACE IS ALWAYS THERE AND IT ALWAYS WILL BE.
Po Pearre read out two poems composed specially for the occasion.
Grownups don't listen
Peace a word we all know a word we all love a word we all need
This word; Peace makes us silent it stuffles whispers and giggles crying and pleas you know why? its a word we all need
and grownups don't listen not them - never them they like to fight the wars not talk it out and make things right
We on the other hand know we listen when someone is crying we help when someone needs we hear the crys and pleas we listen, we know
But grown ups? no
Comit to it
Peace we all know it but we never see it we never show it
Like Peace was a thing in only our minds like it was impossible to just be kind
Peace is not a thing that just happens peace is a thing for which we must fight and if we do that then maybe, just might find just that thing the thing that is right
So drop the weapons and drop the fear for if we do this it means peace is near
So if we do this we stand as one then maybe the world will be a little more fun
So comit to it
Time for the skits! Oh no, Anvita is up to his old tricks...
...and Medur is wigging out again!
Thumbs down.
A moment of peace...
...to be silent...
....and simply feel...
...our heartbeat.
We presented the Torch-Bearer Award to Justine Colley-Leger who is the Athletic Director at the school and a legendary athlete. She is the all-time leading scorer in the history of CIS women’s basketball and was inducted into the Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame in 2019. We were thrilled to offer her the award for her exemplary work mentoring youth using the universal language of sport. Congratulations, Justine!
We took a selfie with Kimberley who is the niece of our long-time Peace Run friend Cathy Oerter, founder of Art of the Olympians, along with our latest Torch-Bearer Award recipient Justine.
We presented the school with an art plaque with the caption "Peace is Precious" created by Sri Chinmoy, the Peace Run founder.
Before we heading out to the playground, we all sang "Happy Birthday" to the radiant Janet Grantham, who is the receptionist at the school.
The team couldn't resist climbing the play structure before we left.
Coffee time!
