With funding finally secured, the effort and response from around the world leapt to another level of intensity and scrutiny. I was summoned to meet with senior government leadership in both Moscow and Beijing. They asked me probing questions. They wanted to understand how something like this had happened, who was behind it, and what their motivations were. They wanted to know why I was really doing this. They wanted to know why they should encourage the people of their country to get involved.

I was able to convince them that my sentiments and the purpose of this global initiative were genuine. I told them my story and they seemed to believe me. Both countries committed to provide runners for the international team. The political leadership in the Soviet Union allowed 60 cities throughout the country to participate with huge events in Leningrad (St. Petersburg) and Moscow. In China, they allowed events in Beijing and Shanghai and encouraged some two million runners to join the torch along the Great Wall. In both countries, the heads of state honored the flame’s arrival.

Other amazing things were happening. President Daniel Ortega of Nicaragua, along with head of the guerilla group the Contras, his arch enemy, would declare a cease fire for the day and have their children carry the torch together through the capital city of Managua. Jewish and Arab children were going to carry the torch into the Knesset, the Israeli parliament building, in Jerusalem. In Northern Ireland, Catholic and Protestant runners were going to pass the torch from one to another. The President of Iceland wished the torch to be brought to Reykjavik to light a world peace cauldron outside the building where Gorbachev and Reagan were to have their historic first summit meeting. It was as though the geopolitical chessboard was given a second dimension to play on and many new moves were being invented.

The lighting and launch of the torch on its journey around the world was to take place at the United Nations in New York. The torch was to be lit from a fire created at a sunrise ceremony on the grounds of the United Nations by two Native American elders, Chief Shenandoah of the Iroquois Nation and Grandmother Caroline of the Hopi Nation. Among the native cultures, the Iroquois are the “keepers of the sacred fire.” It is they who are charged among all the native tribes to provide the fire necessary to manifest dreams. The Hopi are the “keepers of the dream.” They serve as stewards of the most profound belief on the planet: that human beings can live in harmony with each other and the Earth.

They are also keepers of the Hopi Prophecies reverently handed down from one generation to the next for over a thousand years. The most important of these prophecies states that when humanity is on the brink of self destruction the Hopi must deliver a message at the great hall of mica. If this message is received, the world would begin the “Great Turning” toward a thousand years of peace. If it was not received the world would continue its direction and enter into a thousand years of darkness and war. The prophecy stated that they would have four attempts to deliver this message.

The Hopi elders determined that the time described in the prophecy had come, and the great hall of mica was the glass United Nations building on Manhattan’s east side. For the sake of the world, they diligently sought an audience with the leadership of the United Nations. They had been turned down three times already, so this was their final chance. The native cultures were closely tracking what they felt was a momentous opportunity for humanity.

It was a beautiful sunrise in Manhattan. It had been raining so the air was pure and the sky was clear. The sun was gleaming off the tall rectangular glass United Nations building and surrounding skyscrapers. Political dignitaries, rock stars and the UN Secretary General were preparing to participate. It was September 16, 1986, the opening day of the UN General Assembly – the international day of peace in the international year of peace.

The evening before, a ceremonial site had been prepared on the grounds of the UN by Chief Shenandoah. There was a little chill in the air that September morning as Chief Shenandoah of the Iroquois Nation, in the ancient ways rubbed two sticks together until a spark was ignited into kindling. The kindling was placed on combustible material until a small flame grew into a blazing fire. Many political dignitaries and media were on hand to hear Grandmother Caroline offer the prophecy the Hopi had been stewarding for a millennia.

A paraphrasing of what she said was: “Humanity is at a crossroads. To continue on this planet, we are being called to achieve a higher level of community, where we can experience that which unites us. The fire symbolizes the light within that connects us all. As this light goes around the world it will awaken in humanity a deep yearning to live in harmony with each other and the Earth. This will leave a lasting imprint in our memory and make possible the Great Turning that was prophesized. Learn to interpret the signs, they will be there.”

Her profound message of hope inspired everyone in attendance. Over the next 86 days, it would be communicated in one form or another to the 25 million people and 45 heads of state in 62 countries who would directly participate in the passage of the fire. And to the hundreds of millions more participating through the media.

The 86-day journey of the fire around the world was an extraordinary moment on the planet. Wherever the flame arrived, conflict stopped and adversaries cooperated. The anticipated fear of crowds being out of control did not materialize. While they were enthusiastic, they were respectful and in awe of the fire they were seeing. There were no injuries and no one was even burned. On more than one occasion, it was raining when the flame arrived, but when the ceremony began, the rain ceased and the sun would shine. Airline pilots welcomed the flame onto their planes as a distinguished quest. Inspired art, music, dance and poetry were created that touched the spirit and united. The flame arrived on time for every scheduled ceremony. Each community proudly shared success stories of how their citizens had cooperated for the common good and achieved something great. For 86 days, wherever the flame went there was peace and cooperation. These “signs” were noticed by all.

When the flame arrived back at the United Nations in New York, a special session was held in the United Nations General Assembly Hall. Delegates from around the world shared story after story of how the people of their country had been moved and elevated by the power of the fire. They described in many different ways how they had been inspired and provided hope that we can create the world we want. That our dreams and aspirations for our world can be realized. That everyone around the world wants the same thing and when given the opportunity, fully embrace it.