There is no doubt that the recent current events have touched all of us to the bone. We have been affected deeply -- individually, nationally, and globally.

There is talk of a worldwide spiritual transformation. It is spiritual because we are rethinking our morals, ethics and values - even if we are not religious. The holy books on this planet all send us the same core messages (such as 'thou shalt not kill') and encourage people in the ways of peace and love.

Now, there are some people who twist religious doctrines to make it seem as if it is okay with God if we hurt, kill, or maim. They may say it is in the name of God -- and their God may be Christian, Hindu or Muslim. But this is not okay with God. Do any of us really think God wants us to insult the earth with bombs? Does anyone ever really have divine guidance to retaliate with death and violence?

The presence of God is within each of us as the 'still small voice' of Love. Listening to this voice will facilitate the worldwide spiritual awakening that is changing our priority lists. The voice of fear is so loud right now that home, family, safety and loved ones are moving to the top of the list as we all grieve our brothers and sisters lost in the Twin Towers. The voice of Love is getting louder too as people bond with and love each other through the trauma, in both personal and impersonal ways. Tragedy brings us close; sometimes this is the only way our egos can be opened enough to listen to Love.

There are more stories to come and the media will keep us rethinking our positions -- re-evaluating ourselves and facilitating the outpouring of love and compassion. Countries are grieving, bonding together and now is the time we could realize that we really are one body called the human race. Peace and love must become a way of life. People are asking deep questions, seriously considering that we should not kill the terrorists but listen to them instead - listen to their grievances and work to co-operate with them.

Love is what turns human beings into great human beings. The only thing that will end terrorism is to stop listening to the voice of fear. We stop our own terrorist behavior by listening to our own inner terrorist. We stop our own terrorist behavior by stopping ourselves from perpetuating abuse onto others for not getting our own way, or for the sake of righteousness. We stop our own terrorist behavior within first, and this affects us on all levels -- as individuals, families, countries and worldwide.

Many a Sunday I have sat in church singing the peace song -- "Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me." Through my own personal spiritual transformation that happened about a week after the bombing, I began to see that there was indeed within me a terrorist. To have an inner terrorist is to have been traumatized and terrified at one time or another. I used to think that terrorist was just my ego. But now I see that at times my over-reactive ego can go over the line into terror and become a terrorist.

The inner terrorist is that part of you that puts love last. It abandons love, rejects it or stomps it out altogether as a threat to its power. Power is what the inner terrorist wants. Like a troubled child, it wants its own way above all else. Rooted in selfishness, the inner terrorist believes its way is the only way. It can become very sophisticated in rationalizing, justifying and hiding itself from you. I guess that is why it is sometimes called the "Shadow."

There is not one of us who has not hurt another -- what parent has not terrorized their own children with a punishment or angry word that was a bit too harsh, and then regretted it later? How much war goes on in marriages, homes and offices? And what of the socially acceptable abuse that goes on in medical, penal and other social arenas? A little soul searching will reveal your own inner terrorist and all the crimes it has committed. Maybe we should forgive all terrorists, including our own, and really start obeying God's commandment to love one another.

During trying times everyone feels the need to do something. We gave money and blood, prayed in mass, and privately spent hours on the Internet in communion with others of like mind. Another powerful thing we can do is to stop our inner terrorist. How? By realizing that any kind of abuse is not okay. There is no excuse for abuse. To stop abuse, we stop overtly and covertly controlling or manipulating others in any way; we stop making them wrong for their opinions, behaviors, life styles, religious beliefs, etc. We can treat our children, friends, families, and mates with love, honor and respect. We can turn the other cheek, stop taking things so personally, and give love, smiles and hugs to other humans. In our intimate lives we can, each of us, surrender - and make no excuses for our inner terrorist. On a mass scale, we can pray for our enemies.

The next time abuse crosses your path, pray for help - don't retaliate. You can choose moment by moment which voice you are listening to - the voice of Love or the voice of fear - no matter which one you listen to that one will get louder.