Tea for Tuesday

Actually I thought I'd share Three Cups of Tea By Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin sponsored by The Literary Arts and Powell's Books

"The first time you share tea with a Balti, you are a stranger," a villager tells ... "The second time, you are an honored guest. The third time you become family and for our family, we are prepared to do anything, even die."

I went to hear Greg Mortenson speak at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall Monday night and he is an inspiration. He's one man promoting peace with education, especially for girls, in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Using Pennies for Peace to fund his projects of building schools in war-torn Pakistan and Afghanistan, he is proving that one person can make a difference in the world--and it can be a dramatic one.

He says "I've learned that terror doesn't happen because some group of people somewhere like Pakistan or Afghanistan simply decide to hate us. It happens because children aren't being offered a bright enough future that they have a reason to choose life over death."

How is this related to the upcoming holiday season? I would say when we think of "Peace on Earth" we can think of Greg's mission to promote peace through education. The pen truly is mightier than the sword.

Plus, this lecture reminded me of my favorite show of all time, "It's a Wonderful Life"

George Bailey--just like Greg Mortenson--proves that one life can make a tremendous difference in the world.

So Merry Christmas You Good Ole' Savings & Loan!