Power of unity sparks creative book by author

‘The Civil Graces Project: The Pursuit for Common Ground’ celebrates key principles that share the power to unite, not divide, humanity

CHADDS FORD >> Elizabeth Moro is driven to make a difference.

To that end Moro, a local author wrote a book which was published last July.

A former congressional candidate, Moro titled the book “The Civil Graces Project: The Pursuit for Common Ground.” The writing project was an effort to counter rising tensions in American society during the pandemic shutdown.

“There are many ways to live a life, but one thing we know for certain through studying history, the arts, psychology, business, or nearly any field you wish is that there are certain characteristics to living a life of meaning and purpose – elements that also resonate with the founding ideals of the United States,” the description of Moro’s book states on Amazon.

Moro refers to these “selfevident truths as the Civil Graces.”

The book, according to Moro, is an invitation for the reader “to embark on a journey that has the power to transform your life and the world around you. There are many graces to choose from, and embracing a few or even one in your life can shift your perspective and bring about dramatic change. You can live your life with intention and attention, despite what might be happening in the larger context of the world.”

Further, the book seeks to inspire readers to “escape the noise and live the life of your dreams. You can save the world by first examining your life and then putting these truths into practice,” Moro said. “This self-improvement guide focuses on uniting principles that uplift us and bring us together to pursue common ground and make a more perfect union.”

Moro’s book challenges the notion that “we are a divided nation” by focusing on what connects one another “and talk about the things that brings us together.”

During an interview with the Daily Local News, Moro said the word “courage” means the “space of the heart” and this principle is needed to meet people on common ground, even in the middle of disagreements.

Moro opens her book with a quote from the poet Rumi: “Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing there is a field. I’ll meet you there.”

The book both explores differences and celebrates what brings people together by celebrating “Civil Graces” shared, across history, among all people.

The No. 1 “Civil Grace” in Moro’s book is “hospitality.”

“We all bring something to the table,” said Moro, who lives with her family at Chadds Peak Farm in Chadds Ford.

Moro was a Democrat candidate for Pennsylvania’s former 7th Congressional District which has since been altered due to a state Supreme Court decision on gerrymandering concerns. The district spanned five counties including Chester, Lancaster, Delaware, Montgomery and Berks.

During the pandemic, people realized “what is essential,” Moro said.

“My hope is to inspire thoughtful dialogue,” Moro said, “around ideas that we hold self-evident in our country. These are concepts and principles that don’t divide us.”

Focusing on compassion and perseverance, for instance, rather than divisiveness, heals pain with the power of love and hope. Change begins by changing conversations so that they are not adversarial.

“When we can see beyond the issues that divide us to the things like gratitude, compassion, perseverance,” Moro said. “These are things that matter to a society.”

The book delves into what brings people together “so that by recognizing those core principles we can see the common humanity with each other.”

SUBMITTED PHOTO — VINCE MORO Third-grade students from the Gesu School in Philadelphia visited Chadds Peak Farm for a countryside field trip during the spring in 2019. The students took hikes to pick wildflowers, saw bees make honey, fished in the pond and met with newborn lambs and chickens. Above, author Elizabeth Moro works on an art project with visitors at her family farm. “What a fun and magical day that was for everyone,” Moro said.