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In the middle of
the twentieth century, two young people wrote a "religious" song, "Let
there be peace on earth", at a retreat, at Camp Herman, in the San
Francisco Bay Area hills. The rights for use of the song, by Rotary,
were granted to Rotary International by the authors.
"And when I attempted suicide
and I didn't succeed, I knew for the first time unconditional
love—which God is. God is unconditional love. You are totally
loved, totally accepted, just the way you are. In that moment I
was not allowed to die, and something happened to me which is
very difficult to explain. I had an eternal moment of truth, in
which I knew I was loved, and knew I was here for a purpose."—
Jill Jackson Miller,
author of "Let There be Peace on Earth," describing events in
her early life that developed her unique philosophy of Peace.
The song "Let There be Peace on Earth" has become a global
anthem for peace.
The late Jill Jackson Miller, an actress and
songwriter, wrote "Let There be Peace on Earth"
in the summer of
1955. Since that time the song and its message has circulated around
the globe.
"Let There Be Peace on Earth."
Let There Be Peace on Earth and let it begin with me.
Let There Be Peace on Earth, the peace that was meant to be!
With God as our Father, family all are we.
Let us walk with each other in perfect harmony.
Let peace begin with me. Let this be the moment now.
With ev'ry breath I take, let this be my solemn vow;
To take each moment and live each moment in peace eternally!
Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me!
Written by Sy Miller and Jill Jackson
Circa 1955
(revised 2012 by Jack M. B. Selway)
Miller movingly
speaks of her early life—how she became an orphan as a young girl, and
her difficult journey through foster care, that led her into despair and
attempted suicide. She describes that it was then that she realized the
presence of a higher power in her life and how she eventually came to
write the song. It is a song that has rippled and spread around the
world, taking on a life of its own, as people began to live the message
and share the song.
Jill Jackson Miller, author of "Let
There Be Peace on Earth."
* To support the implementation of the strategic plan, RI will no longer
have
presidential emphases that change every
year.
This decision
will help us to have greater continuity in our service, and achieve more
significant goals over the long term.
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