IMAGINE PEACE FOUNDATION

presents

A Year of Gifting Week 21

Captain Jason Dahl Scholarship Fund

As I reflect on the significance of today I'm taken back to that fateful morning when so many lives were changed in an instant. On a personal note I remember just getting back from an amazing five day retreat in Big Sky, Mt. with my new spiritual community, Mile Hi Church. I had gone away to sort through a troubled relationship. I was supposed to get married a couple of months before, but my fiancée at the time, backed out of the wedding days before it was supposed to occur. I was devastated. I had sold all my furniture, had sold my home and had let go of building my dream home that I had been working on at the time, in anticipation of my upcoming marriage. I was sleeping on the floor of a friend's house trying to figure out how I had arrived at this place. I thought my fiancée and I were working through things and were hopeful to set a new date when I went on the retreat to gain insight. Upon returning the next day I sat on the couch to get caught up on my pile of mail that had accumulated while I was in Big Sky and I turned on the news and began by opening a letter addressed from my fiancée; it ended up to be a Dear John letter. Already in shock and sobbing from the news of him wanting to end our relationship that I had gained new hope for; I looked up to see the first plane crash into the Tower.

Over time I began to heal from the relationship ending, which I can see as a gift now. The events of that day on 9/11 started me on a journey that lead me to create what is now Imagine Peace Foundation. So many special souls have shown up throughout this past decade to show support, give of their talents, and most importantly to share their love. Although, the foundation is not what I first envisioned, I continue to hold on to two things I learned early on; first, the lessons of 9/11 which are, with love and community we can begin to heal our hearts and bring light to where there has been pain and darkness, and; secondly, inspired by Arun Gandhi who once told me there would be a lot more peace if peace organizations would come together and support each other. It is in that spirit that this year we are hosting A Year of Gifting. To pay honor to all the wonderful nonprofits that are spreading light into the world. It's true my vision has not yet become what I planned it to be, however I am touched daily by what it reminds me of; that in all the people I've been blessed to meet along the way. I know that there is one universal gift that holds us together which is love and the hope that that love will transform into peace for us all.

Today I had the privilege of hearing Sandra Dahl speak at Mile Hi Church and was touched by her courage and her story. Her husband was the Captain that was flying United Airlines Flight 93 that crashed in Pennsylvania instead of into the US Capitol building. From the tragic event that caused Sandra Dahl to lose her husband she started a Scholarship Fund in his name. Please join me this week in paying honor and respect to all those people whose lives were touched by the events of 9/11 and volunteer somewhere and donate a minimum of $3-$10.00 to this special Fund and keep alive this vision of love.

Captain Jason Dahl Scholarship Fund

In 2002, the Captain Jason Dahl Scholarship Fund was established to provide two deserving aviation students a scholarship grant in Jason's name. Originally available to students at Dahl's Alma Mater, San Jose State University and Metro State University in Denver where Dahl lived, the program has since been expanded to NATIONAL status as an IRS recognized 501(c)3 non-profit program supported through corporate and individual donations alike.

To Learn More:

http://dahlfund.org/

DONATE ONLINE TO:

http://dahlfund.org/?page_id=10

************************************************************************************************************

For Dr. ROGER who reminds me with optimism all things are possible!

A pessimist, they say, sees a glass of water as being half empty; an optimist sees the same glass as half full. But a giving person sees a glass of water and starts looking for someone who might be thirsty.
- G. Thomas Gale

To learn more about A Year of Gifting or to nominate a charity go to:

http://www.imaginepeacefoundation.org/