Daily Dose (January 20 – 23)
TUESDAY JANUARY 20 — Have you read Old Turtle and the Broken Truth, by Douglas Wood?
The children’s book tells an imaginary story of how the world came to be so fragmented when it is meant to be whole, and how we might put it back together again.
In a far-away land that “is somehow not so far away,” one night a truth falls from the stars. And as it falls, it breaks into two pieces—one piece blazes off through the sky and the other falls straight to the ground.
One day a “truth” falls from the sky and breaks.
One day a man stumbles upon the gravity-drawn truth, and finds carved on it the words, “You are loved.”
It makes him feel good, so he keeps it and shares it with the people in his tribe. The thing sparkles and makes the people who have it feel warm and happy. It becomes their most prized possession, and they call it “The Truth.” Those who have the truth grow afraid of those who don’t have it, who are different than they are. And those who don’t have it covet it. Soon people are fighting wars over the small truth, trying to capture it for themselves.
A little girl who is troubled by the growing violence, greed, and destruction in her once peaceful world goes on a journey-through the Mountains of Imagining, the River of Wondering Why, and the Forest of Finding Out—to speak with Old Turtle, the wise counselor. Old Turtle tells her that the Truth is broken and missing a piece, a piece that shot off in the night sky so long ago.
Together they search for it, and when they find it, the little girl puts the jagged piece in her pocket and returns to her people. She tries to explain, but no one will listen or understand. Finally, a raven flies the broken truth to the top of a tower where the other piece has been ensconced for safety, and the rejoined pieces shine their full message: “You are loved / and so are they.”
And the people begin to comprehend. And the earth begins to heal.
How is this possible? “Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts.” (from Paul’s Letter to the Romans)
There is in every one of us an inherent dignity that no one can give you, and that no one can take away.
And this I know: forgetting (or not embracing) the love that has been “poured in our hearts”, we give way to fear. It is no surprise that we clutch “our narrative” as a kind of protection, and we live distrustful and guarded. Sadly, with time, becoming callous (cold-hearted) and resentful.
So. Here’s the deal: once we see our connectedness, we have to let go of the narrative that divorces us. The voice of Mr. Rogers helps us, “We live in a world in which we need to share responsibility. It’s easy to say, ‘It’s not my child, not my community, not my world, not my problem.’ Then there are those who see the need and respond. I consider those people my heroes.”
Still daily following the Buddhist monks in their Walk for Peace. They are walking—and the thousands who join them each day—to help us disconnect from a narrative of division.
I send a thank you to them, for reminding us to choose peace. Please enjoy this song for the heart and spirit.
“Where The World Learns To Walk Again”.
It does my heart good.
“If love still breathes in human hearts, then peace is not so far to know.”
My email tdh@terryhershey.com is still being adapted and reset, and my deep apologies to all who emailed me and had it returned, and I’m sorry I missed your email. For the next wee bit, please email me at tdhersheyster@gmail.com and I will respond.
WEDNESDAY JANUARY 21 —
Prayer for our week…
“Today is going to be our peaceful day. This is the beginning—a fresh start, a new opportunity to live with awareness and care.
May we be mindful of our breath as it flows in and out, anchoring us to this present moment. May we be mindful of our daily actions, bringing intention and gentleness to everything we do—the words we speak, the way we listen, the kindness we offer, even in the smallest gestures.
May peace shine brightly in our hearts, and from that inner light, may compassion flow naturally to those who are struggling. May loving-kindness soften our responses and warm our connections. May unity remind us that we are all walking this path together, bound by our shared longing for a more peaceful world.
Let us walk together in spirit today—wherever you are, whatever you’re doing. With each mindful breath you take, with each compassionate choice you make, you are helping peace bloom more beautifully in this world.
We are not separate. We are not alone. We are walking together, each of us contributing to the garden of peace that grows when we tend to our own hearts and extend that care outward to everyone around us.
Today is our peaceful day. Let us live it with awareness, with love, with the understanding that every moment we choose peace, we help create more peace in the world.
May you and all beings be well, happy, and at peace.”
Walk for Peace is a long-distance pilgrimage in the United States initiated by Buddhist monks from the Huong Dao Vipassana Bhavana Center in Fort Worth, Texas, to promote peace, compassion, and nonviolence. The walk began on October 26, 2025, and is planned to span approximately 2,300 miles (3,700 km), concluding in Washington, D.C. in February 2026. The monks have been documenting their travels on social media and are accompanied by a rescue dog named Aloka, who has become a symbolic figure in the journey.
Photo… “Happy New Year, Terry. In the ocean of negativity in the world I rely on islands of hope, like Sabbath Moment, to buoy up my soul. Thanks. Here is a picture of sunset, New Year’s Eve 2025 from the Oregon Coast. The lights out on the water are crab boats. Grace and Peace,” Bill Howden… Thank you Bill… And thank you for your photos, please send them to tdhersheyster@gmail.com
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I am so very grateful.
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