The year was 1996. It was about 4am. It was dark. As I drove home there were very few cars on the road. I had just had one of the most, if not the most, profound experiences of my life – I was present for the birth of our first child. My wife and child were doing well, thank God and I was now going home to get some rest after a very long day.

As I drove along in my 1968 beetle I was listening to a Wayne Dyer tape. Dr Wayne Dyer as you may know has written many books on spiritual development and such like. On this tape he was speaking about a deeply profound experience he had when he visited the tomb of St Francis in Assisi, Italy. As I listened I thought to myself “I want to go there some day”.

Three years later after a relatively short cancer challenge my father passed away. At the time I really felt I wasent prepared for this challenge – it totally rocked the foundation on which I had based most of my life up to that point, that was as long as “you think positively” everything in your life would be rosie!!!

As I watched my own fathers life ebb away I sensed the presence of a far greater intelligence than my individual mind at work. It was and indeed is, an intelligence that had an agenda, an agenda which was going to happen irrespective of whether “I” liked it or not!

After my fathers passing I had many questions – What happens when we die? Where do we go? What’s the purpose of life? What is that greater loving intelligence that is at work in our lives? How do we align our lives with this intelligence? Well another wake up call was about to happen, this time it would be global.

That of course was the attack on the twin towers in 11 September 2001.

Just after it happened I asked the same questions – is there a purpose to this event? Could it be possble that it is trying to “wake” the world up to a greater way of living – one where there is more love, compassion, tolerance, kindness, oneness, abundance and so on for all humanity?

I really had no idea but by that stage I had four young children and I wanted to do whatever I could to help create more peace in the world for them and all future generations. But what could I do?

Well within a few days of browsing the internet and looking for some alternative views on 9/11, I received an email about a peace pilgrimage which would be visiting Assisi, Italy. After reading a couple of lines I KNEW I had to go. And why was I going? Not to get something from the experience, no, but to give whatever I could give in the cause of world peace.

As you know it’s almost ten years since the events of 9/11 and no doubt there will be a lot reflection about it all. Have we, the world truly listened and acted upon the deeper meaning of this wake up call? Is there more peace in the world? Is there more compassion? Is there more tolerence? Is there more oneness?

Well who really knows? But if you’d like to be part of the solution, would you like to join us in Celebrating Peace in Assisi, Italy for a week in October 2011? Here’s a bit of background to it all.

In 1986 for the first time in human history, the leaders of the worlds main religions gathered in Assisi, Italy to pray for peace. One of the main instigators of this event was a very peaceful Franciscan priest, Fr Maximillian Mizzi, whom I had the honour and privilege of meeting on a number of occasions.

After 9/11 the worlds religions were again called to Assisi in January 2002 to pray for peace. A number of us went there to play our part. Well it’s almost 10 years since 9/11 and the leaders of the Worlds religions are gathering together again on Thursday 27th October 2011 in the name of world peace, twenty five years exactly after the 1986 gathering.

To coincide with this event I’m inviting you to join a small group of us that will visit Assisi that week, to “Celebrate Peace”. It will be an experience of a lifetime and you’re invited!

We’ll be arriving in Assisi on Saturday 22nd of October and departing Saturday 29th October (dates to be confirmed). As well as being there for the gathering of the Worlds religions we’ll be visiting some of the sacred places in the area including of course the tomb of St Francis, the caves where he meditated and other such places. We’ll also do some yoga and meditation each morning to align ourselves with the very high energy of Assisi and celebrate in the evenings after dinner with song, stories and our own music. In essence we will come together to connect with our own inner peace with the intention of sending out a wave of peace to the world.

If as you read this, you’re feeling a call to be part of this peaceful gathering please email me as soon as possible to register your interest -email sean@seanmkelly.com.

We will be booking the travel arrangements very shortly and organising it all. Bookings will be taken on a first come first served basis – we’re only booking a certain number of hotel rooms. You can email me personally at sean@seanmkelly.com and please enter a subject line of “Assisi Peace Gathering”

Please note this pilgrimage is open to all, no matter what religion or indeed non-religion you are. If you’re human you’re welcome!

Celebrate Your Life and Celebrate Peace!

Sean

Dare to Dream course Youtube channel

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=89uPi6Tv27k&feature=emb_logo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8dnWZRz6N_o